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Mookhey, Daniel to the
Minister for Primary Industries, Minister for Regional Water, Minister for Trade and Industry
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- Regarding reports that residents in Attunga have seen appliances such as
washing machines and shower heads breaking due to high concentrations of
calcium in the water supply:
- What remedies are available to residents in New England and North West New
South Wales who are forced to pay for replacement appliances due to calcium
concentrations in water supply?
- In addition to health guidelines, what other guidelines and rules are local
water authorities obliged to follow in New South Wales?
- What action has the Minister taken to ensure local water authorities are
meeting all state and commonwealth guidelines, expectations and requirements
with regard to water supply?
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Answer -
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- Local Water Utilities in regional NSW are responsible for the management
and provision of drinking water to their customers. In Attunga, Tamworth
Regional Council is the local water utility.
Water hardness, caused by
elevated levels of calcium and other minerals, can cause the build-up of scale
on household water fittings and fixtures.
A guideline value for water
hardness is included in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG).
However, this value is only an aesthetic guideline as there is no health
concern with an increased water hardness.
Any remedies for household
fixture and fitting impacts due to water hardness would be subject to level of
service negotiations between the local water utility and its customers.
- A local water utility's planning and operation of water supply and sewerage
systems is guided by the NSW Best Practice Management for Water Supply and
Sewerage framework, which is managed by DoI Water.
- In 2017, the NSW Government announced the start of a water Infrastructure
funding program for regional NSW; the Safe and Secure Water Program. This
program welcomes expressions of interest from eligible applicants including
local water utilities. The program targets water and sewerage projects in
regional NSW to ensure infrastructure meets contemporary standards.
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Question asked on 6 March 2018 (session 56-1)
and published in
Questions & Answers Paper No. 141
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Answer received on 10 April 2018
and published in
Questions & Answers Paper No. 147
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