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Water Guidelines

Safe drinking water is essential in sustaining life. Never before has the management of water and the quality of drinking water been more important! Your family’s health and well-being may be compromised by ingesting poor quality water.
 

Whatever your water issues or needs, Pristine Water Systems has the solution for you.

Water Guidelines

Safe drinking water is essential in sustaining life. Never before has the management of water and the quality of drinking water been more important! Your family’s health and well-being may be compromised by ingesting poor quality water. Whether your water is sourced from a bore, well, rainwater tank or delivered through mains/town water systems, protecting your health should be a priority be it water for drinking, food preparation, cooking, cleaning, washing or bathing.

Whatever your water issues or needs, Pristine Water Systems has the solution for you.

Guidance on use of rainwater tanks
The ‘Guidance on use of rainwater tanks’ was produced by the Environmental Health Committee (enHealth) of the Australian Health Protection Committee and issued by The Australian Government, Department of Health. These guidelines are a resource for both Environmental Health Officers, other professionals and members of the public. Guidance on use of rainwater tanks provides information on the range of potential hazards which can threaten water quality as well as recommendations of preventative measures to stop these hazards contaminating rainwater supplies.

The ‘Guidance on use of rainwater tanks’ has been issued to ensure consistency with the framework for drinking water quality management incorporated in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG). The framework advocates implementation of a preventive risk management approach for assuring water quality.

Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG)

ADWG are concerned with the safety and aesthetic quality of drinking water for all consumers. Drinking water is required to be safe to drink and should not contain harmful concentrations of chemicals or pathogenic microorganisms. It should also be pleasing in appearance, taste and odour.

 

Updated in August 2018, the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (2011) provides guidance to water regulators and suppliers on monitoring and managing drinking water quality. It was issued by The Australian Government, National Health and Medical Research Council NHMRC.

Click on the image to download a copy.

Monitoring Rainwater Catchment:

  • Ensure water catchment and storage is regularly inspected and cleaned if necessary.
    • Ensure inspection openings are closed. Roofs, gutters and other catchment areas should be clean and free from debris such as leaves, flowers, dirt and any other contaminants.
    • Cut back overhanging vegetation and branches and keep these clear of catchment areas.
  • Ensure inspection openings are closed and that insect and overflow screens are intact.
    • This will prevent access by insects, small animals, rodents, reptiles or other unwanted pests.
  • Inspect rainwater tank for accumulation of sediments or sludge build-up such as leaves, leaf mould, mud and any other contaminants.
    • If necessary de-sludge tank, clean and sanitise.
Community-based drinking water supplies need a higher level of management than those to individual dwellings. Operators/managers of community based supplies need to implement more formal documented management plans to assure quality. In addition, in Australia, drinking water is regarded as a food and may be subject to either general food legislation or specific drinking water legislation. Operators of community supplies should contact relevant health authorities to determine requirements under state/territory legislation
enHealth

Guidance on use of rainwater tanks, Community-based supplies

In a similar fashion to all drinking water supplies, rainwater systems need to be monitored. Monitoring of domestic rainwater tanks consist of a range of visual inspections rather than laboratory testing or rainwater quality
enHealth

Guidance on use of rainwater tanks, Community-based supplies