Australia: What is in your water?
| State | Chemicals & Pollutants | Contaminants | Bacteria & Pathogens |
| NSW | Chlorine, chloramine, fluoride, nitrate, arsenic, lead, copper, manganese, iron, PFAS, THMs (trihalomethanes) | Pesticides from agricultural runoff, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) | E. coli (rare), Giardia, Cryptosporidium (rural areas) |
| Queensland | Chlorine, chloramine, fluoride, PFAS, arsenic, nitrate, lead, iron | Pesticides, herbicides, industrial pollutants near mining or agricultural areas | E. coli (in rural areas), Giardia, Cryptosporidium |
| South Australia | Chlorine, fluoride, nitrate, arsenic, lead, PFAS, high dissolved solids | Agricultural chemicals, VOCs, industrial pollutants | E. coli (primarily rural), Giardia, Cryptosporidium |
| Victoria | Chlorine, chloramine, fluoride, arsenic, nitrate, lead, copper, PFAS, heavy metals | Trace pesticides, industrial chemicals, VOCs | E. coli (occasional in rural areas), Giardia, Cryptosporidium |
| Northern Territory | Chlorine, fluoride, arsenic, lead, nitrate | Pesticides, high salinity in certain areas, PFAS near industrial sites | E. coli, Giardia, Cryptosporidium |
| Western Australia | Chlorine, fluoride, nitrates, PFAS, arsenic, lead, copper | High salinity (especially in rural regions), agricultural chemicals | E. coli (rare in rural areas), Giardia, Cryptosporidium |
| Tasmania | Chlorine, fluoride, nitrate, PFAS, manganese, iron | Agricultural pesticides, some heavy metals | E. coli (rural areas), Giardia, Cryptosporidium |
| ACT | Chlorine, fluoride, nitrate, lead, PFAS | Agricultural chemicals, VOCs | Rare E. coli or Giardia (usually in untreated supplies) |
"So, is that all? Is there anything else?".
It gets worse. Let's break down some additional chemicals and bacteria found around Australia's water systems.
1. Additional Chemical and Industrial Pollutants:
- Heavy Metals: Lead, cadmium, and copper, often leaching from older pipes, have been reported across states. Lead contamination specifically has been documented in parts of New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, often linked to domestic plumbing rather than the municipal supply.
- Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs): These compounds, such as trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids, can form when chlorine reacts with organic material in water. These are noted across many urban water supplies, including Sydney and Brisbane.
- Nitrate and Nitrite: Common in agricultural areas, particularly affecting rural zones across Victoria, Queensland, and New South Wales.
- Eutrophication Compounds: Excessive nutrients, like phosphorus and nitrogen, lead to algae blooms, especially in warmer regions and areas with intensive farming. Such blooms are problematic in parts of South Australia and the Murray–Darling Basin.
2. Biological Contaminants:
- Cryptosporidium and Giardia: While these are already listed, their occurrence is noteworthy in multiple states with surface water sources, particularly affecting communities relying on untreated supplies.
- E. coli and Coliform Bacteria: E. coli outbreaks have occasionally been reported in smaller, rural water systems, particularly where water treatment infrastructure is limited. Seasonal increases in these bacteria have been reported in South Australia and parts of Western Australia.
- Algal Toxins: Cyanobacterial blooms, especially in regions with warmer climates or high nutrient runoff, can release toxins impacting water safety. Significant events have been reported in the Murray–Darling Basin and parts of Queensland and Victoria.
3. Emerging Contaminants:
- PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances): PFAS, known as "forever chemicals," are increasingly detected near industrial and former defense sites across Australia, particularly impacting Queensland, Victoria, and New South Wales. This group of chemicals has prompted national guidelines updates due to health concerns.
- Microplastics: Though not yet widely studied across Australian municipal supplies, microplastics are emerging contaminants of concern, especially near urbanised and coastal areas.
4. Environmental and Physical Characteristics:
- Salinity and High Total Dissolved Solids (TDS): Western Australia and South Australia report high salinity levels in both urban and remote areas, often due to natural salt deposits and agriculture. This can affect both taste and the suitability of water for drinking without treatment.
- Aesthetic Issues: Beyond health risks, tap water in some regions experiences issues with color, taste, and odor from iron, manganese, and sulfur compounds, particularly where groundwater sources are prominent.
In our next blog, we'll break down the risks of regularly consuming these contaminants.
Filtered water, such as that provided by Hydroco bottles, can effectively reduce exposure to these contaminants, removing chemicals, pollutants, and bacteria to help keep your water clean and support better health. Visit our shop to find the best filtered bottle for your needs.