INTRODUCTION

Central Highlands Region Water Authority (Central Highlands Water) is responsible for delivering domestic drinking water services to more than 120,000 residents in more than 60 locations through the Central and Western regions of Victoria.

This report provides a record of the water quality for each water supply system for the financial year 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007 and aims to illustrate the extent of the water quality monitoring and testing regime in place at Central Highlands Water.

Guidance regarding the structure of the 2006/07 Water Quality Report has been provided by the Department of Human Services in accordance with Safe Drinking Water Act 2003 and Drinking Water Regulation Guidance Note No. 9, June 2007.

During the year, Central Highlands Water delivered more than 11,000 million litres of water to more than 57,000 properties across the region, servicing customers in 15 distinct water supply systems comprising 37 water sampling localities and four supplies where regulated water is supplied.

View the Water Quality Annual Report 2007

Water Quality Results

To ensure drinking water is consistently of high quality, meets our customer expectations and regulatory requirements, water quality monitoring and testing occurs throughout the supply system. NATA - accredited laboratories undertake the testing of the water samples for a wide variety of health-related, non-health related and physical characteristics of the water, according to the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act 2003 and the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2004. These tests help determine the taste, colour, odour and safety of the water delivered.

A monthly report of the water quality data reporting on key health-related characteristics is provided to the Department of Human Services (Environmental Health) and a copy of that data is provided here. All the data is used to help identify any trends that can be targeted for future improvement. The characteristics reported on are: E. coli, turbidity, aluminium, chlororacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, trihalomethanes (THMs), bromate and formaldehyde.

The report contains data from the most recent month and also 12-month rolling average data. Results are shown for each of the 37 water sampling localities that provide potable drinking water across the supply systems.

Monthly Water Quality Results