Raw water treatment in Tumut, Australia

Indicator: Raw water treatment

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What the results tell us for Tumut

See also: | Water supply | Drinking water quality |

Water supplied to townships within the Shire has been of a very good standard throughout the current recording period, in contrast to the previous period when standards were variable.

Raw water treatment has changed during the reporting period. Tumut, Adelong and Talbingo plants have comprehensive water treatment and Batlow and Brungle have more basic treatment. However, regardless of changed or consistent raw water treatment methods, drinking water quality improved over the current period of record. Council has found that raw water is variable in quality, depending on a number of factors including rainfall patterns. Water treatment also varies with raw water quality.

Table 1. Treatment of Raw Water Supplies, Tumut Shire
Water source	Type of treatment required
Water source	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000
Tumut River	Sedimentation, filtration, chlorination	Sedimentation, filtration, chlorination	Filtration, chlorination
Adelong Ck	Sedimentation, filtration, chlorination	Sedimentation, filtration, chlorination	Filtration, chlorination
Batlow Dam	Chlorination	Chlorination	Filtration, chlorination
Jounama	Direct filtration, chlorination	Direct filtration, chlorination	Filtration, chlorination
Nimbo Ck	Chlorination	Chlorination	Chlorination

About the data

Records of raw water treatment are maintained by Council as part of their responsibility in the supply of water.

Description: What does 'raw water treatment' measure?

Which data are collected?

treatment required to bring raw water to a standard suitable for human consumption

Why do we report this indicator?

Raw water is water in streams, waterbodies and groundwater which has not been treated to ensure that it is suitable for human consumption. Such waters can contain contaminants such as sediment, salts, organic material and pathogens such as Giardia.

Water supplied to most communities for drinking is disinfected with chlorine or ultra-violet radiation, so that the risk of contamination by bacteria is minimised. In addition, raw water from some sources may require pre-treatment to remove other contaminants. Pre-treatment may include simple filtration to remove suspended sediments, or, if the water contains high concentrations of fine materials that stay in suspension, it may also be necessary to add chemicals such as aluminium or iron compounds: a process called flocculation.

The level of treatment required is an indicator of the overall catchment condition for State of the Environment reporting. Waters from vegetated catchments dedicated to water supply are generally of a high quality, particularly if people and livestock have been excluded so that they are undisturbed. These require less treatment than those from catchments which have been used for other purposes such as agriculture, urban development or forestry. Waters from these disturbed catchments can be severely degraded and thus require more intensive treatment.