Water sampling — ensuring water is safe and tastes good

TasWater thanks customers in parts of South Hobart for their patience and cooperation when advised last week to boil their drinking water.

It’s not something we like to do but it can happen. A problem with network operation potentially let unchlorinated water into the system but changes are being made to prevent it happening again. Importantly, TasWater’s quality testing process identified the problem quickly and once the Department of Health and Human Services issued a boil water alert, we began contacting residents and had people out knocking on doors. Fortunately, testing showed that the problem had been isolated and clean water was in the system and the boil water alert was short-lived. TasWater conducts 190,000 drinking water tests around the state each year with water samplers taking water from designated sampling points every week. One of our samplers is Hobart-based coordinator Kelly Hill. “We sample throughout each system to monitor the supply and ensure the water is safe for our customers. Every sample is collected in line with strict Australian standards.” Kelly say the tap is run for a few minutes and then sterilised with a blow torch before the sample is taken. “We also perform field testing of chlorine, fluoride and turbidity for an on-the-spot quality check.” Samples are also analysed at TasWater’s laboratory at Selfs Point in Hobart to verify they meet Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. “We also sample water sources such as rivers and dams providing important information for our water plant operators to monitor the treatment process. Kelly says this ensures the water tastes good, is safe to drink and is essential to protecting the health of the community.