P OW E R A N D WATER CORPORATION
Power and Water Corporation has to meet water quality
requirements set by the Northern Territory Department of
Health based on expert recommendations.
This fact sheet is to tell you
more about your water supply,
its water quality and how we
look after it.
Your
water
supply
Nyirripi’s water
comes from groundwater.
Two bores pump
groundwater
up from below
the ground to a
storage tank.
Water is kept clean
by adding chlorine.
Your ESO checks the
level of chlorine in
the water every day.
Groundwater is stored under
the ground in rocks, or between
sand, silt, clay and gravel, which
adds minerals to the water.
How do we look after your water supply?
Your water supply is automatically cleaned with
chlorine to prevent bugs that are too small to see
and make you sick. These bugs may be in the
groundwater or tank and pipes.
• The water supply is checked each month:
- to make sure there are no bugs in the water
- to see that the system is being maintained properly.
• The water supply is checked 3 times a year:
- to keep an eye on the levels of elements and minerals.
These samples are sent away and tested for quality.
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Water quality: what is it?
Water quality is measured by looking at what is in water
and comparing it against certain guidelines. The Australian
Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) are used to provide
targets for providing an acceptable water supply and the
ways to meet them. The water quality targets come from the
results of studies, combined with safety margins.
ADWG:
Australian
Drinking Water
Guidelines
Microbiological (bugs too small to see)
Microbiological characteristics in the water are caused by people,
animals and insects near the water supply. They are living bugs
(micro organisms) in the water. Chlorine kills these bugs so they
can’t harm you.
One bug that is monitored to show if faeces (poo) has
polluted the water supply is Escherichia coli, or E. coli.
Water supplies are protected from bugs by making sure:
equipment
is in good
condition
+
fences are
used to keep
animals out
+
human settlements
do not pollute the
water source.
Chlorine is also added to provide protection when the water travels through pipes
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Physical and chemical
(looks, taste, smell)
Radiological
(can’t be seen, tasted or smelt)
Physical and chemical characteristics
depend on the minerals that are
dissolved or floating in the water
from rocks, sand, silt and clay. Often
these are determined by the type of
water source. In groundwater there
are many minerals in the soil and
rock that are dissolved by the water
over time. These can affect the
water’s taste, smell or health effects.
Chlorine added to the water to keep
it clean can also make the water
taste different.
Radiological characteristics depend
on minerals in water that give off
radiation. The radiation is like radio
waves – you cannot see it. Radiation
also comes from things like mobile
phones, microwave ovens and TVs.
Radioactive minerals in water can be
natural and come from local rocks
underground or be caused by mining
and manufacturing. At high levels,
radiation from water can be harmful
to people who drink it.
Of the 29 water quality targets, Nyirripi’s
water has 3 of these characteristics that
exceed the ADWG, which are described
in the next section.
Nyirripi’s water is below the ADWG
for radioactivity.
What elements and minerals are in Nyirripi’s water?
Nyirripi’s water
is below 26 of the 29
water quality targets
that are regularly
tested.
The water supply in
Nyirripi is regulated by
the Northern Territory
Department of Health for
drinking water quality.
Checked for aesthetics
(look, taste and smell).
Fluoride
Checked for health
reasons.
Health guideline
Nyirripi
Yuendumu Alice Springs Ali Curung
0.6 mg/L
0.5 mg/L
2.1 mg/L
Good
Above
guideline
1.6 mg/L
1.5 mg/L
Guideline
(ADWG)
Fluoride, hardness and
total dissolved solids
are at higher levels
than recommended by
the ADWG.
Fluoride is present in
toothpaste and is often
added to water supplies
to prevent tooth decay.
Too much fluoride can
cause weak teeth and
bones, particularly in
young children.
Total dissolved solids
Nyirripi
500 mg/L
Guideline
(ADWG)
Good
Above
guideline
578 mg/L
Yuendumu Alice Springs Ali Curung
540 mg/L
452 mg/L
957 mg/L
The total dissolved solids
(TDS) is a measure of the
minerals and organic
matter in the water, and
the taste is salty. It shows
how much ‘stuff’ is in the
water, but not whether it
is good or bad.
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What elements and minerals are in Nyirripi’s water?...cont
Hardness
Nyirripi
Yuendumu
210 mg/L
Nyirripi
Yuendumu
Alice Springs Ali Curung
220 mg/L
244 mg/L
200 mg/L
Guideline
(ADWG)
Good
Above
guideline
231 mg/L
‘Hard water’ contains
lots of magnesium and
calcium so scale can build
up on hot water heaters,
kettles and appliances.
In hard water soap won’t
lather as much.
Turbidity
2.2 NTU
Alice Springs Ali Curung
2.6 NTU
1.1 NTU
5 NTU
Guideline
(ADWG)
Good
Above
guideline
1.7 NTU
Turbidity measures how
cloudy water is. The
lower the number for
turbidity, the clearer
the water is. Turbidity is
caused by small particles
floating in the water.
Summary
• Power and Water Corporation has the responsibility for providing safe drinking
water to Territory Growth Towns and communities.
• We regularly report the results of water quality tests to the Department of Health.
• The Northern Territory Department of Health regulates Nyirripi’s water supply for
drinking water quality.
• Power and Water Corporation is looking at ways to improve the water supply in
Nyirripi in the future.
Further information:
For water quality enquiries 1800 245 092
For detailed information on all measurements taken for Nyirripi’s
water, please see the latest Water Quality Report online at:
www.powerwater.com.au/newsroom/publications
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