Melbourne Water
Social and Environment Data
2005 / 2006

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Routine physical parameters

Exceeding reporting level and percentage in zones/population

The reporting levels are based on Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (2004). Sampling results are based on monitoring at locations listed in our agreements with the retail water companies. Target levels are at equal to or less than the reporting level or, in the cases of pH, within the range shown. The physical reporting levels are based on aesthetic rather than health considerations. Values that would be a concern for health are well beyond the reporting levels. The testing for colour is done as “apparent colour” rather than “true colour”; the latter test involves a filtered sample and would not be representative of Melbourne’s water supply. “Apparent colour” gives a higher number than would be obtained for “true colour” for the same sample.

Parameter
/
retail water company		 Report- ing level Total zones Total tests Total Exc
eed
ence		 % Fails No. Exceeding Reporting Level (& %) in Zones/Population
Below 10K 10K to 100K Above 100K
Tests Fails % Fails Tests Fails % Fails Tests Fails % Fails
Colour (Pt/Co)
ALL 15 70 2272 2 0.1 774 1 0.1 1342 1 0.1 664 1 0.2
YVW 15 35 1270 2 0.2 371 1 0.3 833 1 0.1 365 0 0.0
CWW 15 11 691 0 0.0 - - - 458 0 0.0 278 0 0.0
SEW 15 30 999 1 0.1 351 0 0.0 400 0 0.0 414 1 0.2
Turbidity (NTU)
ALL 5 70 2273 0 0.0 775 0 0.0 1342 0 0.0 664 0 0.0
YVW 5 35 1271 0 0.0 372 0 0.0 833 0 0.0 365 0 0.0
CWW 5 11 691 0 0.0 - - - 458 0 0.0 278 0 0.0
SEW 5 30 999 0 0.0 351 0 0.0 400 0 0.0 414 0 0.0
pH (units)
ALL 6.5-8.5 70 2276 1 0.0 777 0 0.0 1342 0 0.0 665 1 0.2
YVW 6.5-8.5 35 1274 1 0.1 374 0 0.0 833 0 0.0 366 1 0.3
CWW 6.5-8.5 11 692 1 0.1 - - - 458 0 0.0 279 1 0.4
SEW 6.5-8.5 30 1000 1 0.1 351 0 0.0 400 0 0.0 415 1 0.2

Note: Some monitoring locations cover multiple zones, different population groups or more than one retail water company.

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