Annual Report on Drinking Water Quality in Victoria 2014–15 Partners in Providing Safe Drinking Water

Annual report on drinking water quality in Victoria 2014–15 Partners in providing safe drinking water

Annual report on drinking water quality in Victoria 2014–15 Partners in providing safe drinking water Accessibility To receive this publication in an accessible format phone 1300 253 942, using the National Relay Service 13 36 77 if required, or email .

Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne.

Except where otherwise indicated, the images in this publication show models and illustrative settings only, and do not necessarily depict actual services, facilities or recipients of services.

ISSN 2205-7633 (Print) 2205-7641 (Online)

Available at www.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/water

Printed by Impact Digital, Brunswick on sustainable paper (1509033) Secretary’s foreword

I am pleased to present the Department of Health and Human Services Annual report on drinking water quality in Victoria 2014–15.

Our communities’ health and wellbeing are underpinned by safe and reliable drinking water supplies. The Safe Drinking Water Act 2003 provides the framework whereby the department, as the regulator of drinking water quality, can ensure the safety of supplies for the future by working in partnership with the water industry.

The regulatory approach of the department drives continuous improvement of the systems in place, assuring the safety and quality of drinking water to the 95 per cent of Victorians serviced by a reticulated drinking water supply.

This approach has again achieved a high rate of compliance in 2014–15, with 99 per cent of those supplied receiving water that met drinking water quality standards. Five and a half million Victorians received high-quality, drinking water through reticulated supplies.

Additionally, the number of notifi cations made to the department under s.22 of the Safe Drinking Water Act was the lowest on record; 38 per cent less than last year.

While I am pleased with the achievements of increased compliance and reduced notifi cations, there is still more work ahead to manage the ongoing challenges concerning the provision of safe drinking water. Together with the water industry, we can drive future system improvements to assure communities that these challenges will be well managed.

This year, the department has invested considerable time in the development of the Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2015, which commenced operation on 18 July 2015. Partnerships with Victorian water businesses and other government departments supported this process which guarantees a safe drinking water regulatory framework that will continue to operate effectively into the future.

I look forward to the year ahead in which the Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2015 will be implemented. The department is committed to continuing to work with the water industry to improve the health and wellbeing of Victorians through the delivery of safe and affordable drinking water supplies.

Kym Peake Secretary Department of Health and Human Services

Contents

Introduction 1

Highlights and achievements 2014–15 2

A collaborative approach to water regulation 3

Victoria’s safe drinking water regulatory framework 4

The role of the Minister for Health 4

The role of the Department of Health and Human Services 5

The role of water businesses 6

Proactively protecting public health 8

Risk management plans 9

Drinking water quality standards 10

Competency framework for water treatment operators 11

Regulated water 11

Drinking water quality performance 2014–15 12

Compliance with the drinking water quality standards 12

Exemptions from the drinking water quality standards 13

Notifications 13

Undertakings 16

Draft Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2015 17

Analysis of discussion paper submissions 17

Regulatory Impact Statement and draft Regulations 17

Public comment 17

Outcomes 17

Working with our partners to protect public health 18

Water industry liaison 18

Community water fluoridation 19

Blue-green algae 20

Emergency management preparedness 21

Recycled water 21

Water plans 22

Education and promotion 23

Providing advice and guidance 23

Advocacy and representation 24 Financial statement 25

The department’s expenditure on drinking water safety 25

Future challenges 26

Water security 26

Operational performance monitoring 27

Fluoride optimisation 27

Making tap water the drink of choice 28

Appendix 1: Contact details for water businesses 29

Appendix 2: Water sampling localities not meeting drinking water quality standards 2014–15 30

Appendix 3: Regulated water declarations 31

Appendix 4: Water business assets visited by Water Program staff 2014–15 32

Appendix 5: Education and promotion activities 2014–15 33

Presentations and workshops 33

Representation 34

Glossary 35

List of tables and figures Tables

Table 1: The management of Victoria’s drinking water supply 3

Table 2: Drinking water quality standards Schedule 2 of the Safe Drinking Water Regulations 10

Table 3: Notifications to the Department of Health and Human Services by category 2012–15 14

Table 4: Information provided by the Water Program by category 23

Table 5: The department’s expenditure to administer the Safe Drinking Water Act 25

Table 6: Contact details for water businesses 29

Table 7: Water sampling localities non-compliant with one drinking water quality standard 30

Table 8: Water sampling localities non-compliant with two drinking water quality standards 30

Table 9: Current declarations for regulated water supplies at 30 June 2015 31

Table 10: Site visits made to water business assets by Water Program staff 2014–15 32

Figures

Figure 1: Victoria’s multi-jurisdictional water regulatory system 3

Figure 2: Water storage managers’ boundaries across Victoria 6

Figure 3: Water suppliers’ boundaries across Victoria 7

Figure 4: Safeguarding Victoria’s drinking water supply through continuous quality improvement 8

Figure 5: Percentage of localities compliant with drinking water quality standards 2005–15 12

Figure 6: Percentage of localities compliant with individual drinking water quality standards 2012–15 13

Figure 7: Notifications to the Department of Health and Human Services under s. 22, 2005–15 15 Introduction

The Safe Drinking Water Act 2003 and the Safe Drinking This report recognises Water Regulations 2005 provide a framework in which the the partnership approach water industry and the department meet the shared goal of which facilitates Victoria’s ensuring safe drinking water supplies. safe drinking water Section 32 of the Safe Drinking Water Act requires the quality record. Secretary to the Department of Health and Human Services to provide the Minister for Health with an annual report on the quality of Victoria’s drinking water. The eleventh prepared for the minister under the Safe Drinking Water Act, this annual report summarises Victoria’s drinking water quality performance and the activities of the department during the 2014–15 reporting period.

Section 26 of the Safe Drinking Water Act requires Victoria’s 25 water businesses to prepare annual reports which inform the public of any water quality incidents as well as detailing the quality of drinking water supplied. This annual report provides a synopsis of drinking water quality across Victoria. Individual water business annual reports are available from their websites.*

Recognising the collaborative approach which facilitates Victoria’s safe drinking water quality record, the theme of the Annual report on drinking water quality Victoria 2014–15 is ‘Partners in providing safe drinking water’.

* See Appendix 1 for contact details.

1 Highlights and achievements 2014–15

In 2014–15, the Department of Health and Human Services continued to partner with water businesses and government agencies to see further improvement in the safety and quality of the drinking water delivered to Victorians. Highlights and achievements over the 2014–15 reporting period include:

• Performance against the drinking water quality standards remained excellent throughout the period. Of the five and a half million Victorians who received a reticulated drinking water supply, 99 per cent received drinking water that complied with the drinking water quality standards all of the time. • The number of notifications made under s. 22 of the Safe Drinking Water Act to the department by water businesses continued to fall. A 38 per cent reduction in the number of notifications resulted in the lowest number on record. • Water fluoridation commenced in Kilmore and Maryborough; an additional 20,000 people now benefit from this important public health initiative. • Water Program staff engaged Ararat community groups and informed residents about the future introduction of a fluoridated water supply. • The department published draft Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2015 and a Regulatory Impact Statement, and undertook a consultation process with the public and water businesses. During this process the department engaged with every water business to discuss the changes proposed. • In conjunction with the Water Industry Operators Association of Australia and VicWater, Emeritus Professor Steve Hrudey presented a workshop Ensuring Safe Drinking Water, sharing experiences of significant water safety events around the world. • The department’s Water Program staff presented a paper on Victoria’s response planning at the International Conference on Harmful Algae in New Zealand. • Water Program staff presented at the World Health Organization’s 7th meeting of the International Network of Drinking-water Regulators in Portugal regarding Victoria’s drinking water risk management approach.

2 A collaborative approach to water regulation

Victoria’s water industry is regulated through a comprehensive, multi-jurisdictional regulatory approach to ensure that Victorians have continuous and ready access to safe drinking water.

Four government agencies are involved in planning, managing and regulating Victoria’s water resources and water businesses. Each agency has a regulatory and oversight role that is defined in various Acts of Parliament, Regulations and guidelines. Collectively, these mechanisms set the economic, environmental and social obligations water business are obliged to comply with.

Table 1: The management of Victoria’s drinking water supply

Environment Protection Protects Victoria’s waters through designing and implementing environmental Authority Victoria laws, policies and regulatory controls to prevent pollution and protect the environment. Administers the Environment Protection Act 1970.

Department of Environment, Ensures the sustainable management of water resources through catchment Land, Water and Planning management and resource allocation, and through governance of the water industry, by administering the Water Act 1989.

Essential Services Determines water pricing and oversees the service standards to be achieved Commission by Victoria’s water businesses as authorised under the Essential Services Commission Act 2001.

Department of Health and Regulates drinking water quality to protect public health through the Human Services implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2005 and the Health (Fluoridation) Act 1973.

While each agency has a clearly defined regulatory role, there is a high level of interagency collaboration. This ensures that there is an integrated and coordinated approach to planning and oversight activities for the water industry.

Figure 1: Victoria’s multi-jurisdictional water regulatory system

Department of Health and Human Services Public health

Environment Protection Essential Services Water businesses Authority Victoria Commission Environment Pricing

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Water resources and governance

3 Victoria’s safe drinking water regulatory framework

Victoria’s drinking water supplies are regulated under a comprehensive safe drinking water regulatory framework. The framework is concerned principally with the quality of drinking water supplies and aims to ensure a consistent, reliable supply of high-quality and safe drinking water to Victorians who have access to reticulated water. The safe drinking water regulatory framework consists of:

• the Safe Drinking Water Act • the Safe Drinking Water Regulations. The safe drinking water legislation requires:

• a catchment-to-tap risk management approach • a set of drinking water quality standards • information disclosure requirements for water businesses. The safe drinking water regulatory framework supports the Health (Fluoridation) Act and is consistent with the risk management approach in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (NHMRC, NRMMC 2011).1

The role of the Minister for Health Victoria’s safe drinking water regulatory framework establishes a number of decision-making functions for the Minister for Health:

• declaring non-potable water to be regulated water • varying aesthetic drinking water quality standards • exempting water suppliers from complying with the drinking water quality standards • imposing conditions in relation to varying drinking water quality standards • setting and collecting a levy for the purpose of administering the safe drinking water regulatory framework.

1 NHMRC, NRMMC 2001, Australian Drinking Water Guidelines Paper 6 National Water Quality Management Strategy, National Health and Medical Research Council, National Resource Management Ministerial Council, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.

4 The role of the Department of Health and Human Services The department has an important role in safeguarding drinking water and facilitating the safe use of regulated water (non-potable water which may be mistaken for drinking water) to protect public health and wellbeing.

The Secretary to the department is the authority designated under s. 3 of the Safe Drinking Water Act to administer Victoria’s safe drinking water regulatory framework. The specific functions of the Secretary as prescribed in s. 27 of the Safe Drinking Water Act are to:

• protect public health in relation to the supply of drinking water • monitor and enforce compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Regulations • report on the performance of water suppliers and water storage managers in relation to the requirements imposed on them under the Safe Drinking Water Act • investigate and report on any aspect of drinking water quality in Victoria • make recommendations to the Minister for Health on any matter relating to drinking water or regulated water • promote industry and public awareness and understanding of drinking water quality issues. The Secretary can enter into undertakings with water businesses to achieve particular requirements related to drinking water quality and can provide directions to a business if there is a risk to public health. The department has a dedicated Water Program team that administers Victoria’s safe drinking water regulatory framework on behalf of the Secretary.

Water Program The department’s Water Program is a division of the Health Protection Branch. The Water Program’s regulatory approach is based on maintaining up-to-date knowledge about health-related drinking water risk management together with fair, transparent and effective regulatory oversight.

The activities of the Water Program include:

• reviewing and assessing the health significance of notifications made to the department under s. 18 and s. 22 of the Safe Drinking Water Act • providing guidance and advice to water businesses on drinking water quality issues • working with water businesses that are found to be noncompliant with the Safe Drinking Water Act or the Safe Drinking Water Regulations • reviewing technical reports for water fluoridation dosing plants and endorsing management plans for certain recycled water schemes • overseeing fluoridation delivery system technologies to ensure reliability in terms of safety and desired oral health benefits • leading the Victorian Government’s emergency response during emergencies related to the contamination of drinking water supplies • preparing and distributing guidance material on aspects of the safe drinking water regulatory framework • keeping up-to-date with current research and emerging drinking water quality issues, and contributing to research • providing input into national guidelines and policy development • advocating and raising awareness across government, industry and the community on public health and wellbeing issues related to drinking water.

5 The role of water businesses The Safe Drinking Water Act places obligations on Victoria’s water businesses to provide safe, good-quality drinking water. The Act is applicable to a range of declared water businesses and other statutory authorities that supply drinking water to the public, including Parks Victoria and alpine resort management boards.

At 30 June 2015 there were 25 water businesses regulated by the department under the safe drinking water regulatory framework. The Act defines two types of water business – water suppliers and water storage managers.

Water storage managers Water storage managers store water that is supplied to water suppliers. Water may be treated by water suppliers or water storage managers to drinking water standard prior to supply. There are four water storage managers in Victoria. Three supply untreated water to water suppliers and one undertakes treatment and supplies drinking water to water suppliers.

Figure 2: Water storage managers’ boundaries across Victoria

Water storage managers Bulk water entitlements managed by Goulburn-Murray Water

Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water*

Goulburn-Murray Water

Southern Rural Water

Melbourne Water

*Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water is both a water supplier and water storage manager.

6 Water suppliers Water suppliers supply drinking water to about 95 per cent of Victoria’s population. Most water suppliers are responsible for treating water to drinking water standard. Some water suppliers also manage regulated water supplies. Regulated water is water that is not drinking water, but could be mistaken for drinking water. For example, untreated reticulated water that is used for irrigation, stock, or for non-drinking domestic uses.

There are 22 water suppliers in Victoria, one of which is also a water storage manager. Each water supplier covers a discrete geographic area where drinking water supplies are defined as water sampling localities (declared as such under the Safe Drinking Water Regulations). There are a total of 478 water sampling localities across the state.

A list of these localities is on the department’s website .

Figure 3: Water suppliers’ boundaries across Victoria

5 4

6 Water suppliers Barwon Water East Gippsland Water Lower Murray Water Wannon Water

Central Highlands Water Gippsland Water North East Water Western Water

City West Water Goulburn Valley Water South East Water Westernport Water

Coliban Water Grampians Wimmera South Gippsland Water Yarra Valley Water Mallee Water*

1 Falls Creek Alpine 3 Mount Baw Baw 5 Mount Hotham Resort Management Alpine Resort Alpine Resort Board Management Board Management Board

2 Lake Mountain Alpine 4 Mount Buller 6 Parks Victoria Resort Management and Mount Stirling Board (non-drinking Alpine Resort water only) Management Board

*Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water is both a water supplier and water storage manager. 7 Proactively protecting public health

In Victoria, a catchment-to-tap risk management approach is The state’s drinking taken in the supply of drinking water. This approach recognises water, and the system the need to understand and control hazards in all stages of that delivers it, is closely the water supply system. Water businesses source water from catchment areas and are responsible for bringing this managed and monitored raw water up to drinking water quality. The level of treatment by the state’s water depends on the original quality of the raw water. Drinking businesses and by water is directed to households and businesses through pipe the department’s networks to about 95 per cent of Victorian homes. Water Program. The state’s drinking water, and the system that delivers it, is closely managed and monitored by the state’s water businesses and by the department’s Water Program. Together, continuous quality improvement is sought using the foundations of comprehensive planning, resource management, monitoring, issues management and reporting (Figure 4). This allows water businesses and the department to proactively manage potential risks before they become problems and to regularly identify opportunities to improve and update approaches, policies and processes. The following mechanisms of the safe drinking water regulatory framework support this proactive risk-based approach.

Figure 4: Safeguarding Victoria’s drinking water supply through continuous quality improvement

Planning

• Risk management plans • Water plans

Resource management Reporting • Water treatment • Annual reports • Infrastructure management • Water quality data • Competency and training

Issues management Monitoring • Drinking water quality standards • Undertakings • Audits • Regulated water declarations

8 Risk management plans Water businesses take a proactive approach to managing water quality through comprehensive risk management plans that are developed in accordance with the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Water businesses are required to develop, implement and review a risk management plan for their water supply systems. The plan must detail activities, procedures and management systems to ensure that the drinking water supplied to the community is of a quality that protects their health and meets the drinking water quality standards specified in the Regulations and the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2011. Risk management plans are the primary tool to ensure the safety of the drinking water supplied in Victoria. The risk management plans include a requirement to regularly test drinking water throughout the reticulation system to assure the quality of drinking water at the point of supply.

The Act allows the Secretary to request audits of the water suppliers’ and water storage managers’ risk management plans to ensure that they comply with the obligations imposed under the Act. The auditors must be approved by the Secretary. The auditory regime was implemented in 2007. Since this time four rounds of audits have occurred. No audits were conducted in the 2014–15 reporting period.

9 Drinking water quality standards Victoria’s drinking water quality standards are consistent with the ‘guideline values’ found in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2011. Water suppliers must demonstrate that they have met the drinking water quality standards defined in the Regulations. Schedule 2 of the Regulations as specified in Table 2 identifies a number of parameters with particular requirements including:

• the parameters with specified sampling frequency • the maximum acceptable level of each parameter. Water businesses develop tailored water quality monitoring programs for individual drinking water supplies and test their supplies to ensure that risks have been satisfactorily controlled. An exceedance occurs when the water sample indicates that the parameter level has gone above the drinking water quality standard. If an exceedance of a drinking water quality standard is detected, a notification under s.18 of the Act must be made to the department.

There are two types of guideline values: health-related values and aesthetic values.

Based on the best available science; health-related values are levels of certain physical, chemical and microbiological ‘parameters’ of drinking water that will not result in any significant risk to people’s health over a lifetime of consumption. They are designed to protect public health.

Aesthetic values are intended to ensure that water is pleasant to drink and free of objectionable tastes and odours.

For more information about water treatment processes and quality monitoring programs, see the water businesses’ annual reports, accessed via the websites listed in Appendix 1.

Table 2: Drinking water quality standards Schedule 2 of the Safe Drinking Water Regulations

Sampling frequency per Parameter Standard water sampling locality

Aluminium One sample per month 0.2 milligrams per litre of drinking water (acid soluble)

Bromate 0.02 milligrams per litre of drinking water

Chloroacetic acid 0.15 milligrams per litre of drinking water

Dichloroacetic acid 0.1 milligrams per litre of drinking water

Escherichia coli (E. coli) One sample per week At least 98 per cent of all samples of drinking water collected in any 12-month period contain no E. coli per 100 millilitres of drinking water

Formaldehyde One sample per month 0.5 milligrams per litre of drinking water

Trichloroacetic acid 0.1 milligrams per litre of drinking water

Trihalomethanes 0.25 milligrams per litre of drinking water

Turbidity One sample per week 95 per cent upper confidence limit of the mean of samples of drinking water collected in any 12-month period must be less than or equal to 5.0 Nephelometric Turbidity Units

10 Competency framework for water treatment operators Skilled and knowledgeable water treatment operators are essential to the protection of public health and are the front line in the production of safe drinking water. The department developed a risk- based competency framework in collaboration with water businesses, the Victorian Water Industry Association and the Water Industry Operators Association of Australia. This framework includes an independent certification scheme for water treatment operators. The certification scheme commenced in 2010–11, with the first group of operators certified in 2012–13.

Every water treatment operator must satisfy minimum competencies and operators in charge of higher risk water treatment facilities must satisfy more stringent training and certification requirements. Most water treatment operators already meet these requirements, but many operators have benefitted from additional training. The competency framework has made a positive impact on managing drinking water quality. At 30 June 2015 there were 33 water treatment operators certified under the competency framework.

Regulated water Some water businesses supply untreated water to communities through separate, raw water pipelines. This water is not intended for human consumption; rather it is used for purposes such as watering gardens, flushing toilets and irrigation. If it is considered that water could be mistaken for drinking water the Minister for Health may, under s. 6 of the Safe Drinking Water Act, declare the water to be regulated water. Regulated water declarations can also be made in situations where a water supply that is intended for drinking water deteriorates in quality (due to events such as floods) to the point where drinking water quality standards cannot be met.

A water business supplying regulated water must:

• have a risk management plan for that water supply • take all reasonable steps to ensure that the community is made aware of the intended uses of the water • provide information about any health risks that could arise from drinking the water. In certain circumstances, such as an improvement to water treatment infrastructure, a regulated water supply may become a drinking water supply, and a water sampling locality declared.

During 2014–15, the Minister for Health declared five regulated water supplies as drinking water supplies and two localities as regulated water supplies. Donald, Minyip, Rupanyup, Wycheproof and Jeparit became drinking water supplies. Nullawil and Walpeup were declared regulated water supplies. These decisions were published in the Victoria Government Gazette.

At 30 June 2015 there were 63 towns and 11 pipelines declared as regulated water supplies.

For a full list of current regulated water declarations in 2014–2015 see Appendix 3.

11 Drinking water quality performance 2014–15

Compliance with the drinking water quality standards Water sampling localities are discrete areas of similar drinking water quality defi ned through Regulations and indicate areas for water sampling purposes. During the 2014–15 reporting period, water was sampled at 478 localities around Victoria; three more than the previous year. Analysis of the water sampling locality data shows 462 out of 478 localities met the drinking water quality standards; maintaining an overall compliance rate of 97 per cent (see Figure 5).

Figure 5: Percentage of localities compliant with drinking water quality standards 2005–15

2005–06 82

2006–07 83

2007–08 82

2008–09 86

2009–10 90

2010–11 87 Reporting period 2011–12 92

2012–13 95

2013–14 97

2014–15 97

70 75 80 85 90 95 100

Percentage of localities meeting standards

Analysis of the 2014–15 data against individual standards (see Figure 6) shows that all localities achieved 100 per cent compliance with fi ve drinking water quality standards – Escherichia coli (E. coli), chloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, bromate and formaldehyde. This is the fi rst time on record that a compliance rate of 100 per cent has been achieved for the E. coli standard.

The remaining four drinking water quality standards – aluminium, turbidity, trichloroacetic acid and trihalomethanes, achieved compliance rates of 98 per cent or higher. Compliance for the aluminium standard was 98.5 per cent; up from 98.1 per cent in the previous reporting period. The compliance rate achieved for the turbidity and trichloroacetic acid standards (99.8 per cent) remained largely unaltered, with a slight reduction of 0.02 per cent.

The trihalomethanes standard achieved a compliance rate of 98.1 per cent; a 1.3 per cent reduction in compliance from the previous year. Where the standard was exceeded, trihalomethanes were produced by naturally-occurring organic matter reacting with chorine used to disinfect water. Exceedances were quickly identifi ed and rectifi ed, and not at levels which posed a risk to public health.

See Appendix 2 for details about noncompliant water sampling localities.

12 Figure 6: Percentage of localities compliant with individual drinking water quality standards 2012–15

E.coli

Turbidity

Aluminium

Trihalomethanes 2012–13

Chloroacetic acid 2013–14 2014–15 Dichloroacetic acid Water quality standards Water Trichloroacetic acid

Bromate

Formaldehyde

95.5 96 96.5 97 97.5 98 98.5 99 99.5 100 100.5

Percentage of localities meeting standards

Exemptions from the drinking water quality standards Section 20 of the Safe Drinking Water Act allows the Minister for Health to exempt a water supplier from the obligation to meet a drinking water quality standard. Since the enactment of the Act, the minister has exempted only one water supplier, Wannon Water, from their obligation to meet a drinking water quality standard. This exemption was granted during the 2012–13 reporting period and applied from 30 June 2013.

The Cavendish water sampling locality, managed by Wannon Water, is exempt from meeting the aluminium water quality standard. In the Cavendish water supply, the higher level of aluminium present is naturally occurring and not introduced through treatment. Granting the exemption does not create an unacceptable health risk.

Nonetheless, to ensure that public health remains protected, the exemption requires Wannon Water to monitor the concentration of aluminium in the drinking water being supplied to Cavendish, and to take corrective action should a value of greater than 0.9 mg/L be detected.

Notifications Victoria’s risk management approach enables water businesses and the department to proactively manage potential risks before they eventuate. Response protocols are built into the water businesses’ risk management plans which minimise the risk to public health. Water businesses generally resolve issues with minimal department involvement.

Under s. 22 of the Safe Drinking Water Act, water businesses must notify the department when they believe or suspect on reasonable grounds that water supplied, or to be supplied, for drinking purposes may:

• be the cause of an illness • be the means by which an illness is being, has been or will be transmitted • contain any pathogen, substance, chemical or blue-green algae toxin, whether alone or in combination, at levels that may pose a risk to human health • cause widespread public complaint.

13 All notifications to the department are investigated by water businesses and reviewed by the department. In the majority of instances, risk notifications made to the department relate to a minor issue that water businesses manage without significant departmental involvement. In some situations where notifications are complex, the water business may require Water Program support, advice or additional expertise. Such situations may be called ‘incidents’ and require further action (see page 15).

Notifications in 2014–15 During 2014–15 there were 43 notifications made to the department by water businesses; a 38 per cent reduction from the previous year. This reduction was largely due to the number of E. coli notifications decreasing from 42 to 23; a 45 per cent reduction from the previous year. The majority of the E. coli detections were single isolated events and investigations showed that they did not pose a risk to public health. Table 3 summarises the notifications by category from 2012–15.

Details of the notifications made to the department are available in individual water businesses’ drinking water quality annual reports (see Appendix 1).

Table 3: Notifications to the Department of Health and Human Services by category 2012–15

Type of notification Reporting period

2012–13 2013–14 2014–15

Blue green algae 0 0 0

Boil water notice 1 1 1

Disinfection/treatment failure 6 8 6

E.coli detections 35 42 23

Elevated aluminium 0 0 1

Elevated disinfectant 4 1 2

Elevated disinfection by-products 3 1 1

Elevated fluoride 1 0 0

Elevated metals 1 2 1

Elevated turbidity 1 0 0

Other 6 2 5

Other pathogen detections 3 4 0

Widespread complaint 8 8 3

Total 69 69 43

The number of notifications that water businesses make to the department has been steadily declining since the Safe Drinking Water Act was introduced (Figure 7). This decrease can be attributed to the water businesses’ investment in infrastructure and other improvements they have made to their risk management practices.

The only exception to this trend was an increase in notifications during 2010–11 when large parts of the state were adversely impacted by the 2010 Victorian floods.

14 Figure 7: Notifi cations to the Department of Health and Human Services under s. 22, 2005–15

2005–06 193

2006–07 195

2007–08 198

2008–09 172

2009–10 156

2010–11 199 Reporting period 2011–12 127

2012–13 69

2013–14 69

2014–15 43

0 50 100 150 200 250

Number of s. 22 notifi cations

Incidents When issues associated with a notifi cation are complex the department works with the water business to take action aimed at protecting public health. Of the 43 notifi cations made to the department under s. 22 of the Safe Drinking Water Act, only one involved circumstances where the risk to public health required the department to become actively involved. In this instance (see below), the department’s involvement included providing support, advice and direction on issuing a boil water advisory to assist with minimising any risk to public health while Gippsland Water investigated the event. Other water quality issues of potential health signifi cance are detailed in the annual reports of individual water businesses.

Morwell boil water advisory On 18 April 2015, Gippsland Water advised the Department of Health and Human Services of a dirty water event in the Morwell high level system following a water main break. Gippsland Water initiated its All Hazards Incident Management Plan. Responses included: • extensive fl ushing undertaken throughout the system to remove the dirty water • additional sampling and testing to monitor water quality in the affected system.

Samples taken on 21 April 2015 detected the presence of E.coli. Gippsland Water, in consultation with the department, issued a boil water advisory notice. For the three days that the boil water advisory was in place Gippsland Water provided alternative drinking water supplies to the community including schools, child care centres, aged care facilities and hospitals.

Extensive fl ushing to remove the contaminated water from the water supply system was undertaken. In consu ltation with the department, the boil water advisory was rescinded on 24 April 2015 after additional monitoring of water quality confi rmed no further presence of E.coli in the affected water system and a suffi cient level of chlorine residual. Investigations undertaken by Gippsland Water during the event determined the source of the contamination was due to a previously unknown cross connection between the untreated water and drinking water systems. This was isolated as soon as it was identifi ed and subsequently removed.

15 Undertakings Undertakings are a legislative tool that the department and water businesses use to proactively manage water quality issues and address non-compliance with the Act and Regulations to deliver permanent water quality improvements. A water business enters into an undertaking with the Secretary when the department or the water business identifies a contravention under the safe drinking water regulatory framework which is likely to be ongoing.

The undertaking describes how and when the water business will rectify the contravention. It also describes what the business will do to manage any public health risks while they are rectifying the contravention. Undertakings are described in s. 30 of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

There were three active undertakings during 2014–15. Two of these undertakings were carried over from the previous year and completed by the end of 2014–15. The third undertaking was accepted during the reporting period and was ongoing at the end of 2014–15.

Coliban Water Coliban Water implemented an undertaking to address repeated risk management plan audit non- conformances. All actions were completed and the undertaking finalised in December 2014.

Another undertaking was implemented to address multiple E. coli detections across various water supply systems. This resulted in a work plan which describes a number of measures to address a range of contributing factors. An extension of the completion date for this undertaking was required for Coliban Water to complete the required capital works. The undertaking was finalised in July 2015.

Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort An application for a new undertaking was received in May 2015 from Mt Baw Baw Alpine Resort. The application for an undertaking was in relation to findings of noncompliance from the 2014 regulatory audit. The audit identified a number of non-compliances with disinfection critical control points. The undertaking was approved on 5 June 2015 and is to be completed in March 2016.

16 Draft Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2015

The 2014–15 reporting period commenced with a consultation process underway with the department’s water industry partners to contribute to future Regulations and concluded with the Minister for Health deciding to make the Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2015. These Regulations were developed to ensure the effective operation of the safe drinking water regulatory framework after the Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2005 sunset on 19 July 2015. The department’s process met the requirements of the Subordinate Legislation Act 1994 with the following tasks occurring during the reporting period.

Analysis of discussion paper submissions The department released a discussion paper The future of Victoria’s Safe Drinking Water Regulations (May 2014), and 25 responses were received in August 2014. The paper set out the department’s vision for future Regulations. Responses were analysed by the department and provided valuable viewpoints to inform the development of the draft Regulations.

Regulatory Impact Statement and draft Regulations A Regulatory Impact Statement is the process for evaluating the feasibility of a range of regulatory and non-regulatory options. A consultation process was used to inform the Regulatory Impact Statement including a briefing session and an online survey completed by most water businesses. During October 2014, the department held 15 meetings with industry and government agencies to discuss the information collected from this process and the submissions received in response to the discussion paper.

Consultation assisted in the development of the options to be considered in the Regulatory Impact Statement and informed the detail to be included in draft Regulations. The preferred option was used to draft Regulations for public consultation. The Regulatory Impact Statement was assessed by the Victorian Competition Efficiency Commission and a letter of adequacy was provided to indicate that the Regulatory Impact Statement met the requirements of s.10 of the Subordinate Legislation Act, which requires these documents to be available for public consultation.

Public comment Draft Regulations were published with the Regulatory Impact Statement and the public and the water industry were invited to comment. The documents were published in the Victoria Government Gazette S45 and advertised in the Victorian Herald Sun newspaper on 4 March 2015.

Following the release, the department invited water businesses and government agencies to meet to assist further understanding of the draft Regulations. These meetings were conducted during the public comment period to help inform written submissions by the water businesses.

Outcomes Fifteen submissions were made regarding the draft Regulations and Regulatory Impact Statement and analysed in the department’s report Draft Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2015 and Regulatory Impact Statement Analysis of public comments (May 2015). The report summarised the department’s response to the detailed comments. Some comments resulted in amendments to the draft Regulations.

The Regulations were presented to the Minister for Health who decided the draft Regulations would be made adopting these minor amendments. The minister’s decision was published in the Victoria Government Gazette S141 and the Herald Sun newspaper on 5 June 2015.

17 Working with our partners to protect public health

The Water Program actively fosters partnerships with water Strong relationships businesses, the community, local councils and state and have been established federal government organisations to mitigate the public health with partners through risks associated with water. Strong relationships have been established with partners through open communication, open communication, engagement and responsive leadership. This section engagement and highlights some of the work done in collaboration with responsive leadership. Water Program partners.

Water industry liaison The Water Program meets regularly with water businesses and seeks opportunities to see site- specific risk management issues firsthand. This allows the Water Program Liaison Officers to fully understand the issues faced by water businesses and to contribute to the identification of risks and mitigation strategies in water business risk management plans.

Throughout the year, Water Program staff visited 30 water treatment plants, three catchments, four regulated water supplies and two recycled water treatment plants, in addition to liaison meetings.

For the full list of assets visited by Water Program staff see Appendix 4.

18 Community water fluoridation The Department of Health and Human Services, Dental Health Community water Services Victoria, the Australian Dental Association and the fluoridation achievements University of Melbourne are the key stakeholder agencies this year saw the for community water fluoridation in Victoria. The department coordinates a Fluoride Reference Group (with representatives commencement of water from these agencies) to report on the progress of community fluoridation in Kilmore water fluoridation in Victoria and to keep up-to-date with the and Maryborough latest research. The key areas of interest this year were: which extends this • National Health and Medical Research Council public call important public health for evidence 23 July–22 August 2014 initiative to an additional • U.S. Public Health Service decision to reduce fluoride levels 20,000 people. in public water supplies • National Oral Health Plan 2015–2024 • Victorian public health and wellbeing plan 2015–2019. Community water fluoridation achievements this year saw the commencement of water fluoridation in Kilmore (Goulburn Valley Water) and Maryborough (Central Highlands Water) which extends this important public health initiative to an additional 20,000 people. In April 2015, the Grampians Wimmera Mallee water community in Ararat were advised that fluoridation of their water supply will start in the next financial year. It is anticipated that the commissioning of the fluoride plant at Ararat will extend fluoridated water to another 8,000 Victorians.

19 Blue-green algae Blue-green algae can result in taste and odour issues in drinking water supplies. Some species of blue-green algae can produce toxins that are harmful to humans and animals when consumed, inhaled or come into contact with the skin.

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning is the Victorian State Coordinator for blue-green algae management and response. However, a number of organisations, including state government agencies, water businesses, catchment management authorities, local government and emergency services, work together to manage blue-green algae blooms across Victoria. This coordination framework is outlined in the Blue-Green Algae Circular.

In accordance with the Blue-Green Algae Circular, water businesses are required to notify the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning when blue-green algae are detected in water bodies used for both drinking and recreational purposes. In the case of detections in drinking water storages, businesses are also obligated to notify the Department of Health and Human Services under the Safe Drinking Water Act if their water treatment processes are unable to effectively remove or manage blue-green algae. The department provides advice to organisations and the public about the potential public health impacts of blue-green algae blooms in both recreational and drinking water.

To ensure that the information and processes remain relevant, each year the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and the Department of Health and Human Services host a debrief meeting to discuss the framework, update the Blue-Green Algae Circular and to share information. The 2015 meeting held in June was well attended with representatives from the water industry, the Royal Melbourne Botanic Gardens, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries.

20 Emergency management preparedness The Water Program and its partner agencies, work together to manage emergencies affecting the safety and quality of reticulated drinking water supplies.

Victoria’s drinking water supplies withstand many extreme events such as droughts, bushfires, floods, and toxin-producing blue-green algae blooms. The department and water businesses are quick to enact their emergency management plans when these events occur. Response measures may involve protecting key infrastructure, increasing water treatment, providing support and advice to communities or delivering alternative drinking water supplies.

The water industry maintains a steady state of preparedness for emergencies through cross- agency exercises that test different scenarios affecting water supplies. These exercises involve water businesses, local government, police, fire agencies, and government departments such as the Environment Protection Authority Victoria and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.

During 2014–15 the department’s Water Program participated in a number of water businesses’ emergency management exercises. The exercises strengthen the department’s relationship with emergency management agencies, clarify roles in emergency events and prepare staff to respond quickly and effectively.

Recycled water Class A recycled water is the highest class of reclaimed water and is intended for non-potable uses such as watering gardens, flushing toilets and the irrigation of crops. Increasingly, buildings and new developments are being fitted with dual pipe reticulation systems to provide recycled water in a separate pipeline from the drinking water system.

In April 2015, it was identified that a drinking water fountain at a school in the south eastern suburbs of Melbourne had been inadvertently connected to Class A recycled water. A whole-of- government response was enacted and the Department of Health and Human Services undertook a health risk assessment for chemicals and pathogens to determine the risk of illness to people who consumed the water. In this case, the investigation showed that the health risks associated with the consumption of recycled water were very low.

21 Water plans The Essential Services Commission is the economic regulator of the Victorian water sector. Water plans are an important mechanism for ensuring that Victorians are getting value for money from the water industry. The primary function of water plans is to set water pricing for a period of up to five years.

For each cycle, water businesses prepare a plan for the Essential Services Commission that describes:

• the outcomes they need to deliver • the actions they will undertake to achieve those outcomes • performance indicators to measure outcomes • proposed water prices • capital and operational costs associated with achieving the outcomes. The Department of Health and Human Services contributes to water plans by advising water businesses and the Essential Services Commission on priorities for investment to safeguard the quality of drinking water supplies and to protect public health.

Water Plan 3 commenced on 1 July 2013 and will run through to 30 June 2018. The plan identifies the following investment priorities:

• improve health-related aspects of drinking water quality due to existing issues • address risks arising where disinfected-only (unfiltered) drinking water supplies draw water from multi-use or unprotected surface water catchments • ensure that by the end of Water Plan 3 issues of recurrent inability to meet the Safe Drinking Water Regulations are resolved • address water supplies with elevated levels of total dissolved solids, to ensure that all drinking water supplies are pleasant to drink.

22 Education and promotion

Section 27(f) of the Safe Drinking Water Act gives the Secretary the function of promoting industry and public awareness and understanding of drinking water quality issues. The Water Program takes an active role in undertaking this work on behalf of the Secretary. This includes educating the public about the health risks associated with drinking water and promoting ways to mitigate and manage potential risk.

Providing advice and guidance Evidence-based guidance materials are developed and promoted by the department to increase industry and public awareness about water quality issues. During 2014–15 the Water Program maintained a comprehensive suite of guidance documents, issued newsletters and responded to public enquiries.

The department’s website hosts more than 70 guidance documents related to topics including the safe drinking water regulatory framework and reticulated drinking water supplies, water fluoridation, private drinking water supply, blue-green algae, recreational water, aquatic facilities, and alternative water supplies. This guidance is targeted at a wide range of interest groups including the water industry, auditors, consultants, schools, developers, health professionals, landholders, communities and households.

The Water Program newsletter Upstream commenced distribution in May 2015. This quarterly online newsletter includes key highlights, updates from the Water Program and water quality issues presented as case studies. The aim of the newsletter is to inform stakeholders of the program’s activities and to encourage conversation about water-related issues.

Throughout the year the Water Program responded to 328 queries from internal and external stakeholders related to water and public health (see Table 4).

Table 4: Information provided by the Water Program by category

Category Number of queries

Drinking water 137

Water fluoridation 21

Recreational water 7

Aquatic facilities 45

Blue-green algae 27

Alternative water supplies 15

Private drinking water supply 34

Water (general) and wastewater 42

For more information about drinking water, water fluoridation, recreational water, aquatic facilities, blue-green algae, alternative water supplies and private drinking water supply visit the Water Program webpage .

For requests for particular advice or to discuss water related issues contact the Water Program by email or phone 1300 761 874.

23 Advocacy and representation In addition to the regulatory functions described in previous sections, the Water Program participates in state and national committees and presents at conferences, seminars and workshops. The Water Program also supports research and policy development.

For a full list of presentations made and committees attended by Water Program staff see Appendix 5.

Research partnerships One of the key roles of the department is to provide advice to inform policy and to respond to water incidents and emergencies. In order to maintain knowledge and ensure that advice is evidence based and up-to-date, the department has developed strategic research partnerships with various research organisations.

These partners include:

• Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities • Water Research Australia • Water Services Association of Australia.

24 Financial statement

The department’s expenditure on drinking water safety Section 51 of the Safe Drinking Water Act requires water businesses to pay a levy to assist in meeting the costs of regulatory oversight. On behalf of the Minister for Health the department set the levy for the 2014–15 financial year at $1,173,986. Receipts totalling this amount were paid into the government’s consolidated revenue account as required under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Equivalent funds were then appropriated to the department.

The expenditure of these funds is shown in Table 5. The variance column shows the difference between expenditure in 2013–14 and in 2014–15.

Table 5: The department’s expenditure to administer the Safe Drinking Water Act

Expenditure type Expenditure by financial year

2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 Variance between 2013–14 and 2014–15

Salaries, allowances and salary 583,119 803,789 755,418 -48,371 related on-costs

Indirect costs 49,820 70,753 60,749 -10,004

Operating costs 170,819 200,395 227,322 26,927

Communication and education 22,866 20,861 25,154 4,293

Research and development 340,273 345,711 276,574 -69,137

IT development 0 12,876 5,165 -7,711

Total expenditure 1,166,897 1,454,385 1,350,382 -104,003

The total expenditure in 2014–15 was less than the expenditure in 2013–14. The making of the Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2015 and printing of public information resources resulted in increased communication and education costs. Research and development expenditure reduced due to a revision of funding and contributions models for industry research organisations.

25 Future challenges

The department is committed to working with its partners to meet future challenges to the continued supply of safe drinking water. This includes strengthening risk management processes, and securing water supplies for the long term.

Water security Victorians expect that their drinking water supplies are safe, reliable and affordable. The security of Victoria’s water supplies is increasingly challenged by factors such as population growth and climate change. Victorian water businesses seek to improve systems that are resilient to disturbances – such as prolonged drought – and retain their ability to deliver safe and reliable water supplies. The water services sector has seen a rapid increase in the availability of new technologies which offer increased efficiency to the delivery of safe water at lower costs. Strategies for continued water security include:

• increased efficiency through replacing or improving infrastructure • considering diversification of water sources • effectively engaging the community to participate in efficient and safe water-use behaviour. The Water Program informs emerging water policy to ensure that a public health perspective is considered when investigating alternative water use and new technologies. The Water Program supports water businesses in the continued delivery of safe water through assisting water suppliers to quantify risks associated with new technologies and identify the controls needed to ensure that water remains safe and fit for purpose. The Water Program also has a role to play in informing the community about the safe and appropriate use of alternative water supplies.

26 Operational performance monitoring Water treatment processes which are critical for the continuous production of safe drinking water must be monitored in real time and immediate action taken when performance deteriorates. The strategies and processes of real time water treatment performance monitoring and response are referred to as operational performance monitoring.

Operational performance monitoring is recognised in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2011, and is already used widely throughout the Victorian water industry. However, the consistency of approach has remained an issue. This was one of the key considerations when reviewing the Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2005.

Provision has been made in the Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2015, which commenced 18 July 2015, to improve operational performance monitoring.

Fluoride optimisation Across Victoria, there are 48 fluoride plants currently in operation. To provide a dental health benefit, these plants need to operate reliably where the optimal dose rate is consistently achieved and periods of inoperation are minimised. Significant work has occurred to make sure that plants are designed and operated so that they cannot exceed the required level of fluoride in the water. However, it is also important that they don’t under-dose.

The Water Program has commenced the development of a fluoride compliance strategy to look at fluoride plant performance and overall operational practices.

27 Making tap water the drink of choice Access to reliable supplies of good quality drinking water is fundamental to community health and wellbeing. It is acknowledged that drinking fluoridated tap water is a healthy option to be encouraged for oral health benefits and to address Victoria’s obesity issues. The challenge of educating Victorians about the benefits of drinking more tap water and less sugary drinks to help maintain a healthy weight and good oral health is being met by the initiatives Choose Tap and H30.

The Choose Tap initiative is an example of where the water industry has contributed to the common goal for better health and wellbeing through increased consumption of high-quality drinking water. Introduced by Yarra Valley Water in 2010, it is now adopted by 11 other water businesses. The initiative aims to promote the health benefits of drinking tap water as an environmentally friendly alternative to bottled water and sugary drinks. As part of the ‘Be Smart Choose Tap’ program, water businesses are working with local councils to install Choose Tap drinking fountains in public spaces so that everyone can access free, safe drinking water.

Launched on the 19 September 2014, the VicHealth H30 Challenge is a campaign encouraging Victorians to make a simple 30-day pledge to replace every sugary drink they would normally drink with tap water. The aim of the challenge is to help establish healthier habits, with tap water becoming the main choice of beverage in the long term.

28 Appendix 1: Contact details for water businesses

Table 6: Contact details for water businesses

Water businesses Telephone Website

Barwon Water 1300 656 007 www.barwonwater.vic.gov.au

Central Highlands Water 1800 061 514 www.chw.net.au

City West Water 131 691 www.citywestwater.com.au

Coliban Water 1300 363 200 www.coliban.com.au

East Gippsland Water 1800 671 841 www.egwater.vic.gov.au

Falls Creek Alpine Resort Management Board 5758 1200 www.fallscreek.com.au

Gippsland Water 1800 066 401 www.gippswater.com.au

Goulburn-Murray Water 1800 013 357 www.g-mwater.com.au

Goulburn Valley Water 5832 4800 www.gvwater.vic.gov.au

Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water 1300 659 961 www.gwmwater.org.au

Lake Mountain Alpine Resort Management Board 5957 7222 www.lakemountainresort.com.au

Lower Murray Water 5051 3400 www.lmw.vic.gov.au

Melbourne Water 131 722 www.melbournewater.com.au

Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort Management Board 5165 1136 www.mountbawbaw.com.au

Mount Buller and Mount Stirling Alpine Resort 5777 6077 www.mtbuller.com.au Management Board

Mount Hotham Alpine Resort Management Board 5759 3550 www.mthotham.com.au

North East Water 1300 361 633 www.newater.com.au

Parks Victoria 131 963 www.parkweb.vic.gov.au

South East Water 131 694 www.southeastwater.com.au

South Gippsland Water 1300 851 636 www.sgwater.com.au

Southern Rural Water 1300 139 510 www.srw.com.au

Wannon Water 1300 926 666 www.wannonwater.com.au

Western Water 1300 650 422 www.westernwater.com.au

Westernport Water 1300 720 711 www.westernportwater.com.au

Yarra Valley Water 1300 304 688 www.yvw.com.au

29 Appendix 2: Water sampling localities not meeting drinking water quality standards 2014–15

Table 7: Water sampling localities non-compliant with one drinking water quality standard

Water business Water sampling locality Standard

Central Highlands Water Alma Trihalomethanes

Bet Bet Trihalomethanes

Daisy Hill Trihalomethanes

Talbot Trihalomethanes

Timor Trihalomethanes

Coliban Water Bendigo (Southern) Aluminium

Bendigo (Spring Gully) Aluminium

Laancoorie Aluminium

Goulburn Valley Water Barmah Aluminium

Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water Edenhope Aluminium

North East Water Myrtleford Aluminium

South Gippsland Water Fish Creek Trihalomethanes

Wannon Water Allansford Aluminium

Cobden Aluminium

Mt Buller Mt Stirling Alpine Resort Mt Stirling – telephone box junction Trichloroacetic acid Management Board

Table 8: Water sampling localities non-compliant with two drinking water quality standards

Water business Water sampling locality Standard

Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water Quambatook Turbidity, Trihalomethanes

30 Appendix 3: Regulated water declarations

Table 9: Current declarations for regulated water supplies at 30 June 2015

Water supplier Water supply area

Central Highlands Water Amphitheatre, Raglan, Redbank

Coliban Water Borung, Dingee, Jarklin, Macorna, Mitiamo, Mysia, Wychitella

Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water Antwerp, Apsley, Berriwillock, Beulah, Brim, Buangor, Chillingollah, Chinkapook, Cowangie, Culgoa, Dooen, Elmhurst, Glenorchy, Goroke, Harrow, Jung, Kaniva, Kiata, Lalbert, Lascelles, Lillimur, Marnoo, Miram, Moyston, Murrayville, Nandaly, Noradjuha, Nullawil, Patchewollock, Pimpinio, Serviceton, Speed, Streatham, Tarranyurk, Tempy, Ultima, Waitchie, Walpeup, Watchem, Westmere, Wickliffe, Woomelang, Yaapeet

Non drinking water from the following pipelines: Northern-Mallee, St Arnaud, Mount Cole, Ararat-Lake Fyans, Stawell supply main, Moyston, Willaura, Wickliffe, Willaura-Lake Bolac, Mount Zero

Goulburn Valley Water Corop, Goulburn Weir, Kirwans Bridge, Molesworth, Strathbogie, Woods Point

Lake Mountain Alpine Resort Lake Mountain Alpine Resort

Lower Murray Water Millewa water supply system (Cullulleraine, Meringur, Werrimull), Mystic Park

Wannon Water Darlington, Non-drinking water from North Otway pipeline

31 Appendix 4: Water business assets visited by Water Program staff 2014–15

Table 10: Site visits made to water business assets by Water Program staff 2014–15

Water business Infrastructure Catchment Regulated water Recycled water treatment plants

Grampians Wimmera Dimboola Water Treatment Plant Mallee Water Nhill Water Treatment Plant

Central Highlands Water Blackwood Water Treatment Plant Daylesford Water Treatment Plant Maryborough Water Treatment Plant

Coliban Water Tooborac Water Storage Facility Bendigo Recycled Heathcote Water Treatment Plant Water Treatment Plant Bendigo Water Treatment Plant

Gippsland Water Trigger Creek Weir Moondarra Reservoir

Goulburn Valley Water Barmah Water Treatment Plant Corop Picola Water Treatment Plant Goulburn Weir Tongala Water Treatment Plant Kirwins Bridge Kyabram Water Treatment Plant Tatura Water Treatment Plant Shepparton Water Treatment Plant Kilmore Water Treatment Plant Seymour Water Treatment Plant Broadford Water Treatment Plant

Lower Murray Water Mildura Water Treatment Plant Mildura West Water Treatment Plant Red Cliffs Water Treatment Plant Robinvale Water Treatment Plant Swan Hill Water Treatment Plant Kerang Water Treatment Plant Koondrook Water Treatment Plant

Mt Baw Baw Alpine Mt Baw Baw Water Treatment Plant Resort Management Board

Mount Buller and Mount Mount Buller Water Treatment Plant Stirling Alpine Resort Management Board

Melbourne Water Silvan Water Treatment Plant Winneke Water Treatment Plant

Southern Rural Water Blue Rock Lake

Western Water Rosslynne Water Treatment Plant Surbiton Park Merrimu Water Treatment Plant Recycled Water Treatment Plant

32 Appendix 5: Education and promotion activities 2014–15

Presentations and workshops In conjunction with Water Industry Operators Association of Australia and VicWater, the Department of Health and Human Services organised a one-day workshop by Emeritus Professor Steve Hrudey Ensuring Safe Drinking Water. The workshop provided a practical learning opportunity for water professionals responsible for the provision of safe drinking water.

Water Program staff presented on various topics to a range of government and industry stakeholders during 2014–15 including:

• 77th Annual Victorian Water Industry Operations Conference 2014 – Case studies and learnings from treatment incidents at recycled water plants – What water treatment operators need to know about health-based targets • National Recycled Water Regulators Forum – Use of recycled water in sanitary sprays • Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, the University of Melbourne – Victorian Government policy: water fluoridation • Melbourne Dental School, the University of Melbourne: Bachelor of Oral Health Students – Victorian Government policy: water fluoridation • Melbourne Dental School, the University of Melbourne: Japanese Dental Professionals Delegation – Victorian Government policy: water fluoridation • Royal Botanic Gardens: Horticulture staff – Blue-green algae and occupational health and safety • East Gippsland Water Board – Department of Health and Human Services role as the water quality regulator • Goulburn Valley Water Technical Services Workshop – Department of Health and Human Services role as the water quality regulator – Opportunities to continue to work together to protect public health • Water industry and auditor debrief – Risk management plan audits from 2014 • Water Quality Health Network – Safe Drinking Water Regulations in Victoria • Mitchell Shire Council – Victorian Government policy: water fluoridation • Royal Dental Hospital – Victorian Government policy: water fluoridation • Ararat Rural City Council – Victorian Government policy: water fluoridation • International Conference on Harmful Algae, New Zealand – The Victorian whole-of-government approach in responding to harmful algal blooms in the Gippsland Lakes • Environmental Health Professionals Australia – Swimming pool workshop

33 • Ministry of Health Wellington, New Zealand – Drinking water regulation in Victoria • World Health Organization’s 7th meeting of the International Network of Drinking-water Regulators, Portugal – Safe drinking water risk management framework, Victoria, Australia Representation During 2014–15 the Water Program participated in the following committees and working groups:

• Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities • Goulburn Broken Water Regional Quality Working Group • Greening the West Steering Committee • Project Advisory Committee – Pathogen surrogates for validation of granular media filtration research project (Water Research Australia) • Melbourne Integrated Water Cycle Management Framework Steering Committee • National Recycled Water Regulators Forum • North East Water Quality Group • Exemplar Global Water Quality Management Systems Scheme Committee • VicWater Catchment Taskforce • Water Research Australia Regulatory Advisory Committee • Water Security and Continuity Network

Key work arising from committee participation during 2014–15 included:

• providing strategic advice to government and industry on health-based, water-related regulatory issues • contributing to relevant health-related water research.

34 Glossary

Alternative water supplies Rainwater and stormwater, greywater, sewage and industrial water (wastewater derived from industrial sources or processes) that is used for non-drinking purposes. Blue-Green Algae Circular A document that provides information, roles and responsibilities on blue-green algae bloom coordination and response within Victoria. Blue-green algae Blue-green algae or cyanobacteria are a type of microscopic, algae- like bacteria which inhabit freshwater, coastal and marine waters. Significant levels of blue-green algae in water bodies can affect the natural ecosystem and potentially impact human health. Boil water advisory A notice issued by a water supplier that requires consumers to boil their drinking water supply prior to consumption (or for purposes connected to human consumption) due to deterioration in the quality of drinking water supplied to a level that has been assessed as posing an unacceptable risk to public health. Bromate Bromate is a chemical compound that may be formed in water during ozonation. Catchment An area of land that collects rainfall and contributes to surface water (streams, rivers, wetlands) or to groundwater. Catchment-to-tap A risk management approach based on the principle that multiple treatment barriers minimise or mitigate identified hazards in raw water and produce water that meets drinking water quality standards. Chloroacetic acid Chloroacetic acid is a by-product formed in drinking water as a reaction between chlorine and naturally occurring organic acids. Class A recycled water A health-based microbiological quality standard for recycled water (for non-drinking applications). Uses that require Class A recycled water will potentially not include ‘barriers’ between the water and direct human contact. Dichloroacetic acid Dichloroacetic acid is a by-product formed in drinking water as a reaction between chlorine and naturally occurring organic acids. Disinfectant An oxidising agent (for example, chlorine, chlorine dioxide, chloramines and ozone) added to water in any part of the treatment process or distribution system to achieve effective disinfection. Disinfection The process designed to destroy or inactivate most microorganisms in water, including essentially all pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria. There are numerous disinfection processes including chlorination, chloramination, chlorine dioxide disinfection, ozonation and ultraviolet disinfection. Disinfection by-products Products formed from the reaction between disinfectants, particularly chlorine and naturally occurring organic materials in water. Distribution system A network of pipes leading from a treatment plant to customers’ plumbing systems.

35 Drinking water Water that is intended for human consumption or for purposes connected with human consumption, such as the preparation of food and making ice (excludes bottled water). Drinking water quality Drinking water quality standards specified in r. 10 (table in Schedule standards 2) of the Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2005 for the purposes of s. 17 of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Dual pipe (scheme) An urban water recycling scheme where an alternative water supply is provided to households for certain uses via a reticulation system that is separated from the drinking water supply. Sometimes referred to as a ‘third pipe’ scheme. Escherichia coli Escherichia coli also known as E. coli is a type of faecal coliform bacteria. The presence of E. coli is a reliable health indicator of the presence of recent contamination from human or animal waste. Its presence most likely indicates a breach of a water quality barrier or contamination during the distribution of the water. Formaldehyde Formaldehyde is a chemical compound that may be formed in water during ozonation. Greywater Wastewater from the hand basin, shower, bath, spa bath, washing machine, laundry tub, kitchen sink and dishwasher, excluding faecal waste and urine from toilets. While kitchen water is included in the definition of greywater, it is generally too greasy and oily to be re-used without significant treatment. Hazard A biological, chemical, physical or radiological agent that has the potential to cause harm. Physical and chemical hazards include heavy metals, trace organic compounds, total suspended solids and turbidity. Microbiological hazards include bacteria, viruses and protozoan parasites. Incident An escalation of normal operations following an event that poses an unacceptable risk to public health. Corrective actions are required to reduce risk. Non-potable water Any source of water that is unsuitable for drinking. Notification Written communication received by the department under s. 18 and s. 22 of the Safe Drinking Water Act from water suppliers where drinking water supplied to the public does not or is not likely to comply with the drinking water quality standards in r. 10 of the Safe Drinking Water Regulations. A notification is also received when drinking water will pose a potential health risk or has caused widespread public complaint. Parameters Parameters for drinking water quality fall under three categories: physical, chemical and microbiological. Physical and chemical parameters include heavy metals, trace organic compounds, total suspended solids and turbidity. Microbiological parameters include bacteria, viruses and protozoan parasites. Pathogen A disease-causing microorganism (for example, viruses, protozoa and bacteria). Rainwater Water collected directly from roof run-off into a storage tank for use.

36 Raw water Water found in the environment – such as rainwater, groundwater, reservoirs and rivers – that has not been purified or treated. Recycled water Water generated from sewage or greywater and treated to a standard that is appropriate for its intended use. Regulated water Water that is not intended for drinking but that could reasonably be mistaken for drinking water. Reticulated drinking The piped drinking water network. water supply Risk The likelihood of a hazard causing harm in exposed populations in a specified timeframe and the magnitude of that harm. Risk management The systematic evaluation of the water supply system, the identification of hazards and hazardous events, the assessment of risks and the development and implementation of preventive strategies to manage those risks. Risk management plan A plan prepared by water businesses under Part 2 Division 1 of the Safe Drinking Water Act that details how they manage risk in relation to their supplies of drinking water and regulated water to the public. Safe drinking water The various legislations used to regulate the supply of Victoria’s regulatory framework drinking water are referred to as the safe drinking water regulatory framework. The framework consists of the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Regulations made under s. 56 of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

The safe drinking water regulatory framework supports the Health (Fluoridation) Act and is consistent with the risk management approach in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2011. Total dissolved solids Total dissolved solids consist of inorganic salts and small amounts of organic matter that are dissolved in water and may impact the palatability of drinking water. Trichloroacetic acid Trichloroacetic acid is a by-product formed in drinking water as a reaction between chlorine and naturally occurring organic acids. Trihalomethanes Trihalomethanes are organic compounds formed when chlorine reacts with naturally occurring organic matter in water supplies. Turbidity The cloudiness of water caused by the presence of fine suspended matter. Undertaking Undertakings are a legislative tool that the department and water businesses use to proactively manage water quality issues and address non-compliance with the Act and Regulations to deliver permanent water quality improvements. A water business enters into an undertaking with the Secretary when the department or the water business identifies a contravention under the safe drinking water regulatory framework. Water businesses Water storage managers and water suppliers are known collectively as ‘water businesses’. Refer to Water storage manager and Water supplier.

37 Water fluoridation Water fluoridation is the adjustment of the level of fluoride in drinking water to around 1 mg/L (also known as 1 part per million), the level that helps to protect teeth against decay. Water plan A document prepared by each water business and provided to the Essential Services Commission proposing pricing over a specified period for water supply services provided to households, businesses and communities. Water sampling locality A geographic area specified by the Secretary in r. 4 of the Safe Drinking Water Regulations defined by the following criteria: an area supplied with drinking water, a discrete area of similar water quality, inclusive of all customers supplied with drinking water of similar water quality, and able to be described by its boundaries. Water storage manager The Melbourne Water Corporation constituted under the Water Act or a water corporation within the meaning of the Water Act (other than Melbourne Water Corporation constituted under the Water Act) that supplies water to a water supplier; or any other person or body declared by the Regulations to be a storage manager for the purposes of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Water supplier Supplies drinking water or regulated water to the public; the holder of a water licence issued in Part 2 Division 1 of the Water Industry Act 1994; an authority within the meaning of the Water Act; Parks Victoria established under the Parks Victoria Act 1998; an alpine resort management board established under the Alpine Resorts (Management) Act 1997; or any other person or body declared by the Regulations to be a water supplier for the purposes of the Safe Drinking Water Act.