Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

Contents

1. Introduction ...... 2

1.1 Characterisation of Supply System ...... 2 2. Water Treatment and Quality Management Systems ...... 9

2.1 Water Treatment ...... 9

2.2 Drinking Water Quality Management System ...... 12

2.3 Issues ...... 13 3. Quality of Drinking Water for 2016-17 ...... 14

3.1 Drinking water compliance ...... 14

3.2 Escherichia coli (E. coli) ...... 15

3.3 Trihalomethanes ...... 16

3.4 Turbidity ...... 18

3.5 Other Algae, Pathogen, Chemical Substance that may Pose a Risk to Human Health ...... 20

3.6 Aesthetics ...... 42

3.7 Analysis of Results ...... 47 4. Emergency and Incident Management ...... 50

4.1 Incident Summary ...... 50 5. Complaints Relating to Water Quality ...... 52

5.1 Water Quality Complaints 2016-17 ...... 52

5.2 Complaint Response Process ...... 54 6. Findings of the Most Recent Risk Management Plan Audit ...... 55

7. Undertakings ...... 55

8. Glossary of Terms and Further Information ...... 56

8.1 Glossary of Terms, Abbreviations and Acronyms ...... 56

8.2 Further Information ...... 57 Appendix 1: Pesticide and Herbicide Groupings ...... 58

Appendix 2: Organic Chemical Groupings ...... 59

North East Water Page i Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 CHARACTERISATION OF SUPPLY SYSTEM North East Water provides drinking water and sewerage services to communities in the valleys of the Upper Murray, Ovens, and part of the Goulburn-Broken catchment (Figure 1-1). Major centres serviced include , Wangaratta, Benalla and Yarrawonga together with smaller towns such as Corryong and Mount Beauty in the east and Goorambat and Bundalong in the west of our region. Approximately 90% of North East Water’s customers are residential with major industrial customers located in Wodonga, Wangaratta, , Benalla and Myrtleford. North East Water supplies treated water to urban customers. North East Water does not have any regulated water supplies.

Figure 1-1 North East Water’s Service Area

1.1.1 Water Sampling Localities Under Section 6 of the Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2015, each water sampling locality must be declared. North East Water supplies water to 42 declared water sampling localities as shown in Figure 1-2. During 2016-17, there were no new, merged or split water sampling localities gazetted.

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Figure 1-2 North East Water’s Declared Water Sampling Localities A number of water sampling localities in our region are serviced through interconnected water delivery systems. Table 1-1 sets out their details.

Table 1-1 Water Supply Systems with Interconnected Water Sampling Localities Water Supply System Localities Serviced Bright Bright Porepunkah Wandiligong Corryong Corryong Cudgewa Mount Beauty Mount Beauty Tawonga Tawonga South Wahgunyah Rutherglen Wahgunyah Wangaratta Glenrowan Wangaratta Wodonga Bandiana Baranduda Barnawartha Bonegilla Chiltern Ebden Kiewa Killara Logic Centre Springhurst Wodonga Yarrawonga Bundalong Devenish St James Tungamah Yarrawonga

1.1.2 Water Supply Systems A summary of general water supply system information is presented in Table 1-2.

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Table 1-2 Water Supply Systems, Water Sampling Localities, Population, Source Water and Storage Information Water Supply Water Sampling Population Source Water Storage(s) Treatment Plant System Locality Supplied1 Beechworth High 2,270 Nine Mile Creek, Lake Kerferd and Beechworth treatment Level Frenchmans Beechworth raw plant Beechworth Low Level 1,150 Creek water basin Bellbridge Bellbridge 480 Murray River Lake Hume Bellbridge treatment plant Benalla Benalla 10,650 Ryans Creek, Loombah Reservoir, Benalla treatment plant Whiskey Creek McCall Say Reservoir, Kilfeera Basin Bright Bright 3,020 Ovens River, Bright off-river Bright treatment plant, Groundwater2 storage Bright bore chlorinator Porepunkah 860 Wandiligong 390 Corryong Corryong High Level 150 Nariel Creek Raw water basin, Corryong treatment plant Hamilton Hill Corryong Low Level 1220 Reservoir Cudgewa 120 As for Corryong LL plus Cudgewa chlorinator and carbon dioxide Dartmouth Dartmouth 220 Mount Tabor Mount Tabor Dartmouth treatment plant Creek, Reservoir, raw water Mitta Mitta River tank Eskdale Eskdale 130 Mitta Mitta River n/a Eskdale treatment plant Goorambat Goorambat 150 Groundwater n/a Goorambat chlorinator Harrietville Harrietville 380 Ovens River n/a Harrietville treatment plant East Branch Moyhu Moyhu 240 King River n/a Moyhu treatment plant Mount Beauty Mount Beauty 1,130 Tawonga Basin Mount Beauty treatment West Branch, plant Tawonga (including 1,160 Tawonga South) Simmonds Creek Myrtleford Myrtleford 3,390 Buffalo Creek Nil Gully Reservoir Myrtleford treatment plant

Oxley Oxley 420 King River n/a Oxley treatment plant Tallangatta 990 Mitta Mitta River Lake Hume Tallangatta treatment plant Wahgunyah Wahgunyah 1,070 Murray River n/a Wahgunyah treatment plant Rutherglen 2,440 Walwa Walwa 110 Murray River 600 kL raw water Walwa treatment plant storage tank Wangaratta Wangaratta 19,370 Ovens River, n/a Wangaratta treatment Groundwater3 plant (Ovens River), Kerr Street treatment plant (Groundwater) Glenrowan 340 As for Wangaratta Whitfield Whitfield 130 King River Raw water tank Whitfield treatment plant

Wodonga Wodonga Low Level 24,650 Wodonga Creek Raw water basin Wodonga treatment plant Wodonga High Level 11,790 Wodonga/Baranduda 2,370 High Level Kiewa 420 Tangambalanga 490 Ebden/Baranduda 1,320 As for Wodonga LL plus Low Level Baranduda chlorinator Wodonga Logic 10 As for Wodonga LL plus Centre Logic Centre chlorinator Barnawartha 690 Chiltern 1,240 Springhurst 190 As for Chiltern plus Springhurst chlorinator Yackandandah 910 Nine Mile Creek Walkers Saddle Yackandandah treatment Basin, Evanswood plant Basin

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Water Supply Water Sampling Population Source Water Storage(s) Treatment Plant System Locality Supplied1 Yarrawonga Yarrawonga 8,940 Murray River Lake Mulwala Yarrawonga treatment plant Bundalong 760 As for Yarrawonga plus Bundalong chlorinator Tungamah 380 As for Yarrawonga plus Yarrawonga West St James 100 chlorinator Devenish 110 As for St James plus Devenish chlorinator

1. Population is based on the number of connections multiplied by a household factor derived from ABS 2011 Census data and is rounded to the nearest 10. 2. The Bright supply system was supplied from the groundwater source in July 2016. 3. The Wangaratta supply system was supplied intermittently from the groundwater source throughout 2016-17.

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1.1.3 Source Waters A summary of source water descriptions is presented in Table 2-2.

Table 2-2 Descriptions of Source Waters 2016-17 Water Supply Source Water Description Storage Manager Catchment Management System Authority Beechworth Nine Mile Creek, Nine Mile Creek is a small waterway that flows through mostly native forest with some pine North East Water is storage North East Catchment Frenchmans plantations and orchards nearer Lake Kerferd. Frenchmans Creek flows largely through pine manager for Lake Kerferd Management Authority Creek plantations. The township of Stanley is within the catchment and is un-sewered with septic tanks for wastewater treatment. Recreational activities in the catchment include fishing, hunting and bushwalking. Bellbridge Murray River Lake Hume’s catchment is very large and includes towns, industry, many types of agriculture, Goulburn-Murray Water and North East Catchment (Lake Hume) forestry plantations, wastewater discharges and septic tanks. Recreation includes boating, NSW Water jointly manage Management Authority fishing, hunting and camping. Lake Hume is also subject to occasional Blue-green algae Lake Hume blooms. Benalla Ryans Creek, Ryans and Whiskey creeks are small waterways that are the main tributaries of McCall Say North East Water is the Goulburn Broken Whiskey Creek (1,136 ML) and Loombah (611 ML) reservoirs. The catchment is largely state forest including storage manager for Catchment Management the Ryans Creek Reference Area. Recreational activities include bushwalking, hunting, camping Loombah and McCall Say Authority and fishing. McCall Say and Loombah reservoirs are subject to occasional Blue-green algae reservoirs blooms. Bright Ovens River The upper catchment is largely national park and state forest. There is some cattle grazing and n/a North East Catchment agriculture and many pine plantations. The catchment is regularly fire affected. Recreational Management Authority activities in the catchment include bushwalking, fishing and camping. There are many septics in the catchment at Harrietville and lifestyle properties. Groundwater The groundwater bore is located on the fringes of Bright. The bore is developed in the deep lead n/a North East Catchment (Calival) which is largely uninfluenced by runoff. Management Authority Dartmouth Mt Tabor Creek Mt Tabor Creek catchment comprises a small protected waterway located in a Natural North East Water is storage North East Catchment Catchment Area (NCA). Mt Tabor Creek starts near Dartmouth Power Station and ends near manager for Tabor reservoir Management Authority Dartmouth flowing into the Mitta Mitta River. Mt Tabor Creek is semi-regulated by Tabor Reservoir which remains at full capacity throughout most of the year. Mitta Mitta River Upper Mitta Mitta catchment comprises the catchment of the Mitta Mitta River upstream of the n/a North East Catchment Dartmouth Dam wall. The majority of this system consists of Alpine and Forest Landscapes. Management Authority However, there are small Urban Landscapes at Omeo, Dinner Plain and Benambra. The Agriculture Landscapes tend to be large grazing operations around Omeo and Benambra. The Lifestyle Landscapes are predominantly associated with rural living and natural environment appreciation, and tend to coexist with the Agriculture Landscapes. There is livestock access to waterways, some forestry and extensive use of waterways for recreational fishing. Eskdale Mitta Mitta River The Lower Mitta Mitta System comprises the Mitta Mitta River and tributaries below the wall of Goulburn-Murray Water is North East Catchment Dartmouth Dam to its inflow into Lake Hume. A number of hydro-electric power stations operate storage manager for Lake Management Authority downstream of the dam, with the Dartmouth Pondage being used as a re-regulator of flows. The Dartmouth lower Mitta Mitta River and its tributaries run through predominantly agricultural land used for cattle, dairy, cropping and forestry. Recreational activities include fishing, hunting and camping. There are several small townships that are un-sewered and rely on septic tanks for wastewater treatment. Goorambat Groundwater The groundwater bore is 10 m deep in a shallow aquifer under the influence of surface water. n/a North East Catchment The bore is surrounded by land used for agriculture including cropping and grazing. Management Authority

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Water Supply Source Water Description Storage Manager Catchment Management System Authority Harrietville Ovens River The Ovens River rises in the Alpine National Park between Mt Hotham and Mt Cobbler. It n/a North East Catchment East Branch begins as two branches (East and West) near Mt Hotham, which join and flow northwards Management Authority before reaching the town of Bright. The Ovens River East branch catchment is largely national park and state forest. The catchment is regularly fire affected. Recreational activities in the catchment include bushwalking, fishing and camping. Moyhu King River The King River rises on the forested slopes of Mt Buggery in the Great Dividing Range before Goulburn-Murray Water is North East Catchment flowing into Lake William Hovell (13,500 ML). Releases from Lake William Hovell generally spill storage manager for Lake Management Authority into the King River for the majority of each year. The catchment below Lake William Hovell William Hovell contains many vineyards, as well as dairy operations, cattle grazing and fodder production areas. Historically, much of this valley was utilised for tobacco production until its closure in 2008. There are numerous small towns in the catchment that are largely un-sewered and rely on septic tanks for wastewater disposal. Fishing and camping take place in the catchment. Mt Beauty Kiewa River The Kiewa River rises on the slopes of the Great Dividing Range between Mt. Bogong and Mt. n/a. AGL Hydro operate a North East Catchment West Branch Hotham as two main branches (East and West) which join below the town of Mount Beauty to scheme upstream of the Management Authority form the Kiewa River proper. The upper catchment is semi-protected and largely forested. There offtakes. are extensive hydro-electricity activities operated by AGL Hydro. Camping, bushwalking and recreational activities take place in the catchment. Simmonds Simmonds Creek is a small tributary of the Kiewa River West branch. The catchment is largely n/a North East Catchment Creek forested. Camping, bushwalking and recreational activities take place in the catchment. Management Authority Myrtleford Buffalo Creek The Buffalo Creek catchment is bound to the east by the Ovens River catchment and the west n/a North East Catchment by the Buffalo River catchment. The upper catchment is Mount Buffalo National Park. The Management Authority offtake is located in the middle reach of the creek where the catchment is forested. There is little development or activity in the catchment. Oxley King River See description for King River at Moyhu. Goulburn-Murray Water is North East Catchment storage manager for Lake Management Authority William Hovell Tallangatta Mitta Mitta River Lake Hume’s major tributaries include the Murray River and the Mitta Mitta River. Lake Hume’s Goulburn-Murray Water is North East Catchment (Lake Hume) catchment is very large and includes towns, industry, many types of agriculture, forestry storage manager for Lake Management Authority plantations, wastewater discharges and septic tanks. The lower Mitta Mitta River and its Dartmouth and Lake Hume tributaries run through predominantly agricultural land used for cattle, dairy, cropping and forestry. Recreational activities include fishing, hunting and camping. There are several small townships that are un-sewered and rely on septic tanks for wastewater treatment. Recreation includes boating, fishing, hunting and camping. Lake Hume is subject to occasional Blue-green algae blooms. Wahgunyah Murray River The Murray River is heavily regulated by Hume Dam (3,005 GL) with variable low flows during Goulburn-Murray Water is North East Catchment winter and high flows during the summer months. The catchment is very large and includes storage manager for Lake Management Authority large towns, industry, many types of agriculture, forestry plantations, wastewater discharges and Hume septic tanks. Recreation includes boating (including houseboats), fishing, hunting and camping. The Murray River is subject to occasional Blue-green algae blooms. Walwa Murray River The Murray River is regulated by flows out of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme and n/a. Snowy Hydro operate a North East Catchment flows into Lake Hume. The large catchment consists largely of alpine and forest landscapes with scheme upstream of the Management Authority agriculture including grazing, dairy and cropping. There are numerous towns in the catchment, offtake. including sewered and un-sewered with septic tanks. Recreational uses include fishing, camping and boating.

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Water Supply Source Water Description Storage Manager Catchment Management System Authority Wangaratta Ovens River The Wangaratta offtake is located at the confluence of the Ovens and King rivers. The Ovens Goulburn-Murray Water is North East Catchment River catchment includes heavily forested areas in the upper catchment. In the middle part of storage manager for Lake Management Authority the catchment there are significant areas of pine plantations, agriculture including grazing, dairy, William Buffalo viticulture and townships that are sewered and un-sewered. The Buffalo River is a major semi- regulated tributary of the Ovens River. The King River catchment includes forested catchment in the upper catchment. Downstream of Lake William Hovell (13,500 ML), the landscape is almost entirely cleared with many vineyards, as well as dairy operations, cattle grazing and fodder production areas. There are numerous small towns in the catchment that are largely un-sewered and rely on septic tanks for wastewater disposal. Historically, much of the King valley and parts of the Ovens Catchment were utilised for tobacco production until its closure in 2008. Recreational activities include fishing, hunting and camping. Groundwater The groundwater bore is 90 m deep within the Calivil formation. The bore is located in an n/a North East Catchment industrial area in the township of Wangaratta. Management Authority Whitfield King River See description for King River at Moyhu. Goulburn-Murray Water is North East Catchment storage manager for Lake Management Authority William Hovell Wodonga Wodonga Creek The catchment is made up of the Murray River catchment and the Kiewa River catchment. Goulburn-Murray Water is North East Catchment Wodonga Creek (where the offtake is located) is an anabranch of the Murray River which is storage manager for Lake Management Authority regulated by the Hume Dam (3,005 GL). The Kiewa River confluence with the Murray River is Dartmouth and Lake Hume upstream of the offtake. Depending on flow volumes, the source water is influenced by either the Murray River or the Kiewa River. The Murray River catchment is very large and includes large towns, industry, many types of agriculture, forestry plantations, wastewater discharges and septic tanks. Recreation includes boating, fishing, hunting and camping. The Murray River is subject to occasional Blue-green algae blooms. The upper Kiewa catchment is semi-protected and largely forested. There are extensive hydro- electricity activities operated by AGL Hydro. The lower catchment is largely agricultural land including dairy, grazing and cropping. There are a number of small towns, wastewater discharges and septic tanks. Camping, bushwalking and fishing take place in the catchment. Yackandandah Nine Mile Creek Nine Mile Creek is a small waterway that flows through mostly native forest with some pine n/a North East Catchment plantations. The township of Stanley is within the catchment and is un-sewered with septic tanks Management Authority for wastewater treatment. Recreational activities in the catchment include fishing, hunting and bushwalking. Yarrawonga Murray River Large catchment including boating, fishing, dairy farming, cattle grazing, crop farming, forestry Goulburn-Murray Water is North East Catchment plantations, industry, towns, sewer & septics storage manager for Lake Management Authority Mulwala

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2. WATER TREATMENT AND QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

2.1 WATER TREATMENT Water treatment processes and added substances for each of North East Water’s water treatment plants are set out in Table 2-2. In some cases the processes and added substances varied due to changes to supply/treatment processes. Treatment chemicals added to water for each water sampling locality are listed in Table 2-3. In some cases, the treatment chemicals added varied during the year due to changes to supply and/or treatment processes and water carting. Refer to the Glossary in Section 8.1 for more information on terms and abbreviations used in this section.

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Table 2-2 Water Treatment Processes and Added Substances at Water Treatment Plants 2016-17 Treatment Process Disinfection and/or Added substances Clarification Filtration Other Oxidation

Water Treatment Plant

)

based based

Activated Activated

-

(PAC

Coagulation & & Coagulation Flocculation Sedimentation/ Clarification flotation air Dissolved Filter Media Granular gas Chlorine Sodium Hypochlorite (UV) Ultraviolet Powdered Carbon Sludge Thickening/Dewatering Ash/Caustic Lime/Soda Dioxide Soda/Carbon Acid /Sulphuric Aluminium Coagulants Polymers Chlorine Fluoride Beechworth ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Bellbridge ■ ■ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Benalla ■ ■ ■ ■ □ ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ Bright ■ □ ■ ■ □ □ ■ ■ □ ■ Bright (groundwater) ■ □ ■ Corryong ■ ■ ■ ■ □ ■ ■ ■ □ ■ Dartmouth ■ ■ ■ ■ □ ■ ■ Eskdale ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Goorambat ■ ■ Harrietville ■ ■ ■ □ ■ ■ Moyhu ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Mount Beauty ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Myrtleford ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Oxley ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Tallangatta ■ ■ ■ ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ Wahgunyah ■ ■ ■ ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ Walwa ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ ■ □ ■ Wangaratta ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Wangaratta (groundwater) ■ ■ ■ Whitfield ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Wodonga ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Yackandandah ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Yarrawonga ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

■ Process/substance applied/added regularly in 2016-17 □ Process/substance applied/added intermittently in 2016-17

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Table 2-3 Treatment Chemicals added to Water Sampling Localities 2016-17 Treatment Chemical

Water Sampling

Locality

Polyacrylamide Polyacrylamide (polymer) Carbon Activated Powdered (PAC) Sulphate Aluminium (alum) Chlorohydrate Aluminium (ACH) Hydroxide Calcium lime) (hydrated Sodium Carbonate ash) (soda Sodium Hydroxide soda) (caustic Dioxide Carbon Gas Chlorine Sodium Hypochlorite (hypo) Acid Fluorosilicic (fluoride) Barnawartha1 ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Beechworth HL ■ ■ ■ Beechworth LL ■ ■ ■ Bellbridge1 ■ □ ■ ■ ■ □ Benalla1 ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ Bright1 ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ Bundalong1 □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Chiltern1 ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Corryong HL1 ■ □ ■ ■ ■ Corryong LL1 ■ □ ■ ■ Cudgewa1 ■ □ ■ □ ■ □ Dartmouth ■ ■ ■ Devenish1 □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Ebden/Baranduda LL1 ■ □ ■ □ □ □ ■ ■ Eskdale1 □ □ ■ ■ Glenrowan ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Goorambat ■ Harrietville1 □ □ □ ■ □ ■ Kiewa1 ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ Moyhu1 □ □ □ ■ ■ □ Mt Beauty ■ ■ ■ ■ Myrtleford ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Oxley1 □ □ □ ■ ■ □ Porepunkah1 ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ Rutherglen1 ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ Springhurst1 ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ St James1 □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Tallangatta1 □ □ ■ □ ■ Tangambalanga1 ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ Tawonga/Tawonga South ■ ■ ■ ■ Tungamah1 □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Wahgunyah1 ■ □ ■ ■ ■ Walwa1 □ ■ ■ ■ Wandiligong1 ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ Wangaratta ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Whitfield1 ■ ■ ■ Wodonga/Baranduda HL1 ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ Wodonga HL1 ■ □ ■ ■ ■ □ ■ Wodonga Logic1 ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Wodonga LL1 ■ □ ■ ■ ■ ■ Yackandandah ■ ■ ■ Yarrawonga1 □ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

■ Treatment chemical added regularly in 2016-17 □ Treatment chemical added intermittently in 2016-17 1. Treatment chemicals added varied in 2016-17 due to changes to supply/treatment processes and/or water carting.

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Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

2.1.1 Major Changes to Treatment Processes A major process change was made at the Harrietville WTP in 2016-17. Pre-dosing of caustic for supplementary alkalinity and pH adjustment was installed which involved a plant upgrade for chemical handling and dosing equipment. The caustic dosing system at Harrietville was commissioned on 14 July 2016. A new WTP at Bright was commissioned and began supplying water to Bright, Wandiligong and Porepunkah in October 2016. The new infrastructure that was developed as part of this project consisted of: a 7.6 km reticulation pipeline and river pump station, a 536 ML off river storage, a 2 ML clear water storage tank and a 5 ML/day water treatment plant. The new Bright water treatment plant is located at Freeburgh, approximately nine kilometres from Bright. There were no other major changes to the arrangements for water supply since the previous year’s report.

2.2 DRINKING WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM The Safe Drinking Water Act 2003 (the Act) provides a regulatory framework for drinking water quality including a risk management framework and water quality standards. The Act requires all Victorian Water Corporations to prepare, implement and review a risk management plan. To assist with this requirement, North East Water has made a commitment to establish and maintain a Drinking Water Quality Management System (DWQMS) that considers the principles of the Framework for the Management of Drinking Water Quality within the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2011 (ADWG). This quality management framework is specific for the water industry and incorporates a preventive risk management approach from catchment to consumer.

2.2.1 Water Supply System Analysis A key element of the Drinking Water Quality Management System (DWQMS) is hazard identification and risk assessment which considers chemical, physical, radiological, and pathogen risks to the supply of potable water. Chemical, physical and radiological risks are described in the ADWG (2011) are assessed through an extensive monitoring program. Pathogen risk assessment is conducted in accordance with the Water Service Association of ’s (WSAA) Manual for the Application of Health-Based Treatment Targets Release No 2 and is consistent with the ADWG 2011 Framework. Figure 2-1 below sets out WSAA’s approach to quantitative risk assessment that has been adopted by the Corporation.

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Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

Source Water Assessment Water Treatment Assessment

Tier 1 Assessment (mandatory) Review Operational Data Tier 2 Assessment (optional) Confirm Actual Performance

Determine Pathogen Reduction Required Determine Pathogen Reduction Achieved

Water Safety Assessment

Compare Pathogen Reduction Required with that Achieved. Plot on Water Safety Continuum

Determine Need for Improvement

Water Safety Improvement Plan

Consider Additional Monitoring to Reduce Uncertainty Consider Reducing Source Challenge through Catchment and Source Management Consider Improving Water Treatment Performance/Barriers

Determine Actions and Urgency

Figure 2-1 WSAA Water Safety Assessment Process

2.3 ISSUES No treatment issues occurred during 2016-17 however three incidents were reported to DHHS under Section 22 of the Act and one incident under Section 18 of the Act. See Section 4.1 for further details.

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Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

3. QUALITY OF DRINKING WATER FOR 2016-17 All analysis results (including compliance sampling results and sampling results for other pathogens or chemicals that may pose a risk to human health) are comprised of results which come from drinking water sample sites specified in the drinking water sampling program. These include customer taps, water storage tanks and entry points to a reticulation system. Water storage tank and entry point results are listed separately from reticulation sites in order to identify that these are not customer tap sample points and therefore not compliance sample points. It is also worth noting that some sites named as entry points are actually storage tanks. Sampling results for water storage tanks are reported in the water sampling locality to which the water storage tank resides

3.1 DRINKING WATER COMPLIANCE Schedule 2 of the Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2015 (the Regulations) lists the regulatory water quality standards that treated water must meet (Table 3-1). Sections 3.1 to 3.4 set out North East Water’s results for these parameters for 2016-17.

Table 3-1 Drinking Water Quality Standards (Schedule 2 of the Regulations 2015) Type Parameter Relevant sampling Quality standard for each water sampling frequency for each water locality sampling locality Microbiological Escherichia coli One sample per week No Escherichia coli per 100 millilitres of drinking organisms water, with the exception of any false positive sample Chlorine-based Trihalomethanes One sample per month Less than or equal to 0.25 milligrams per litre of disinfection by-product drinking water chemicals Turbidity Turbidity One sample per week The 95th percentile of results for samples in any 12 month period must be less than or equal to 5.0 NTU Note on water quality sampling frequencies: North East Water has a Sampling and Monitoring Plan which guides the development of our Water Quality Monitoring Program on an annual basis. North East Water meets with the laboratory services contractor to establish the following year’s program with the objectives of ensuring that compliance testing is met, as well as discuss additional risk-based requirements including: 1. Adequate coverage of larger water sampling localities 2. Project specific monitoring 3. Annual testing 4. Radiological parameters 5. Pathogen programs It will be observed throughout this section that additional monitoring has taken place in many cases. Additional monitoring is conducted from catchment to tap to build on existing datasets. This data informs many functions of North East Water, including the ongoing Drinking Water Quality Risk Management Plan. Where additional monitoring has been conducted and sample numbers are greater than that indicated by the associated sampling frequency, explanation is given in table notes.

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Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

3.2 ESCHERICHIA COLI (E. COLI) Escherichia coli (E. coli) are bacteria that are found in the faeces of humans and other warm blooded animals. E. coli are used as an indicator of possible faecal contamination and hence are a critical indicator when managing a safe water supply. The Regulations schedule 2 water quality standard for E. coli requires that no E. coli are detected per 100 millilitres of drinking water, with the exception of any false positive samples.

Table 3-2 E. coli Results 2016-17 Water Sampling Sample No. of No. of No. of No. of Standard Comments Locality Frequency Retic Tank and Invest- Maximum Investi- Met Samples Entry igations Detection gations (Yes/No) Samples Conducted (orgs/100 Where (s. 22) mL) Standard not Met (s. 18) Barnawartha Weekly 52 64 0 0 n/a Yes Beechworth HL Weekly 52 52 0 0 n/a Yes Beechworth LL Weekly 52 52 0 0 n/a Yes Bellbridge Weekly 52 64 0 0 n/a Yes Benalla Weekly 104 52 0 0 n/a Yes See Note 1 Bright Weekly 52 104 0 0 n/a Yes Bundalong Weekly 52 52 0 0 n/a Yes Chiltern Weekly 52 52 1 460 0 Yes See Note 2 Corryong HL Weekly 52 64 0 0 n/a Yes Corryong LL Weekly 52 52 0 0 n/a Yes Cudgewa Weekly 52 52 0 0 n/a Yes Dartmouth Weekly 52 64 0 0 n/a Yes Devenish Weekly 52 64 1 19 0 Yes See Note 2 Ebden/Baranduda LL Weekly 52 12 0 0 n/a Yes Eskdale Weekly 52 63 0 0 n/a Yes Glenrowan Weekly 52 102 0 0 n/a Yes Goorambat Weekly 52 52 0 0 n/a Yes Harrietville Weekly 52 52 0 0 n/a Yes Kiewa Weekly 52 0 0 0 n/a Yes Moyhu Weekly 52 52 0 0 n/a Yes Mt Beauty Weekly 52 52 0 0 n/a Yes Myrtleford Weekly 52 76 0 0 n/a Yes Oxley Weekly 52 52 0 0 n/a Yes Porepunkah Weekly 52 0 0 0 n/a Yes Rutherglen Weekly 52 65 0 0 n/a Yes Springhurst Weekly 52 52 0 0 n/a Yes St James Weekly 52 53 0 0 n/a Yes Tallangatta Weekly 52 52 0 0 n/a Yes Tangambalanga Weekly 52 12 0 0 n/a Yes Tawonga/ Weekly 104 12 0 0 n/a Yes See Note 1 Tawonga South Tungamah Weekly 52 104 0 0 n/a Yes Wahgunyah Weekly 52 62 0 0 n/a Yes Walwa Weekly 52 77 0 0 n/a Yes Wandiligong Weekly 52 50 0 0 n/a Yes Wangaratta Weekly 156 222 0 0 n/a Yes See Note 1 Whitfield Weekly 52 52 0 0 n/a Yes Wodonga/ Baranduda 0 Weekly 52 12 0 n/a Yes HL Wodonga HL Weekly 104 24 0 0 n/a Yes See Note 1 Wodonga Logic Weekly 52 12 0 0 n/a Yes Wodonga LL Weekly 156 104 0 0 n/a Yes See Note 1 Yackandandah Weekly 52 52 0 0 n/a Yes Yarrawonga Weekly 104 64 0 0 n/a Yes See Note 1 Notes: 1. Additional monitoring was conducted at Benalla, Tawonga/Tawonga South, Wangaratta, Wodonga HL, Wodonga LL and Yarrawonga to ensure adequate coverage across these large water sampling localities. 2. A Section 22 report was submitted to DHHS at these localities. See Section 4.1 for more information. These E. coli detections were found to be false positives and not indicative of the water quality in the reticulation.

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Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

3.2.2 Actions in Relation to Non-Compliance All water sampling localities were compliant with the E. coli water quality standard during 2016-17. The minimum number of required samples were collected from all localities. 3.3 TRIHALOMETHANES Trihalomethanes are present in drinking water principally as a result of disinfection using chlorine, where chlorine reacts with organic matter in the water to produce these by-products of disinfection. The 2015 Regulations Schedule 2 water quality standard for Trihalomethanes requires that total Trihalomethanes are less than or equal to 0.25 mg/L.

Table 3-3 Total Trihalomethanes Results 2016-17 Water Sampling Sample No. of No. of Max No of Standard Comment Locality Frequency Retic Tank and Result Avg. Samples Met Samples Entry (mg/L) Result Above the (Yes/No) Samples (mg/L) Standard

Barnawartha Monthly 12 0 0.091 0.065 0 Yes Beechworth HL Monthly 12 0 0.051 0.036 0 Yes Beechworth LL Monthly 12 0 0.057 0.037 0 Yes Bellbridge Monthly 12 0 0.066 0.047 0 Yes Benalla Monthly 12 0 0.054 0.042 0 Yes Bright Monthly 11 0 0.018 0.010 0 Yes See Note 1 Bundalong Monthly 12 0 0.066 0.050 0 Yes Chiltern Monthly 12 0 0.071 0.050 0 Yes Corryong HL Monthly 12 0 0.029 0.020 0 Yes Corryong LL Monthly 12 0 0.027 0.019 0 Yes Cudgewa Monthly 12 0 0.044 0.021 0 Yes Dartmouth Monthly 12 0 0.053 0.038 0 Yes Devenish Monthly 12 0 0.080 0.060 0 Yes Ebden/Baranduda LL Monthly 12 0 0.056 0.038 0 Yes Eskdale Monthly 12 0 0.032 0.020 0 Yes Glenrowan Monthly 12 0 0.049 0.037 0 Yes Goorambat Monthly 12 0 0.040 0.029 0 Yes Harrietville Monthly 12 0 0.010 0.006 0 Yes Kiewa Monthly 12 0 0.061 0.047 0 Yes Moyhu Monthly 12 0 0.039 0.027 0 Yes Mt Beauty Monthly 12 0 0.016 0.009 0 Yes Myrtleford Monthly 12 0 0.022 0.016 0 Yes Oxley Monthly 12 0 0.033 0.022 0 Yes Porepunkah Monthly 13 0 0.025 0.014 0 Yes Rutherglen Monthly 12 0 0.083 0.057 0 Yes Springhurst Monthly 12 0 0.088 0.065 0 Yes St James Monthly 12 0 0.100 0.072 0 Yes Tallangatta Monthly 12 0 0.092 0.055 0 Yes Tangambalanga Monthly 12 0 0.061 0.050 0 Yes Tawonga/Tawonga Monthly 24 0 0.013 0.007 0 Yes See Note 2 South Tungamah Monthly 12 0 0.081 0.064 0 Yes Wahgunyah Monthly 12 0 0.056 0.040 0 Yes Walwa Monthly 12 0 0.048 0.037 0 Yes Wandiligong Monthly 12 0 0.018 0.013 0 Yes Wangaratta Monthly 12 0 0.045 0.023 0 Yes Whitfield Monthly 12 0 0.026 0.018 0 Yes Wodonga/Baranduda HL Monthly 12 0 0.061 0.050 0 Yes Wodonga HL Monthly 12 0 0.058 0.036 0 Yes Wodonga Logic Monthly 12 0 0.083 0.061 0 Yes Wodonga LL Monthly 12 0 0.050 0.039 0 Yes Yackandandah Monthly 12 0 0.034 0.020 0 Yes Yarrawonga Monthly 24 0 0.056 0.043 0 Yes See Note 2 Notes: 1. Due to contractor error, one sample was not collected at Bright in May 2017. 2. Additional samples are collected to ensure adequate coverage at these large sampling localities.

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3.3.2 Actions in Relation to Non-Compliance All water sampling localities were compliant for chlorine-based disinfection by-product chemicals in 2016-17. One sample in May 2017 was missed at Bright due to a contractor error. DHHS was notified and the contractor has since put controls in place to prevent a recurrence.

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3.4 TURBIDITY Turbidity is a measurement of the light scattering property of water and is caused by the presence of fine suspended matter such as clay or other organic material. Turbidity can shield microorganisms from disinfection and hence it is desirable to have low turbidity to ensure safe drinking water. The 2015 Regulations Schedule 2 water quality standard for turbidity requires that the 95th percentile of turbidity results for samples in any 12 month period must be ≤ 5.0 NTU.

Table 3-4 Turbidity Results 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017 Water Sampling Sampli No. of No. of Tank Max Max 95th Standard Comments Locality ng Retic and Entry Result Percentile Met Freque Samples Samples (NTU) Retic1 (Yes/No) ncy (NTU) Barnawartha Weekly 52 24 12 0.4 Yes Beechworth HL Weekly 52 12 1.4 0.5 Yes Beechworth LL Weekly 52 12 1.0 0.7 Yes Bellbridge Weekly 52 24 3.5 1.9 Yes Benalla Weekly 104 12 2.8 0.5 Yes See Note 2 Bright Weekly 52 39 0.8 0.4 Yes Bundalong Weekly 52 12 0.4 0.2 Yes Chiltern Weekly 52 12 0.4 0.3 Yes Corryong HL Weekly 52 36 2.2 1.1 Yes Corryong LL Weekly 52 12 2.1 4.3 Yes Cudgewa Weekly 52 12 10 1.6 Yes Dartmouth Weekly 52 24 3.2 2.7 Yes Devenish Weekly 52 24 1 2.2 Yes Ebden/Baranduda LL Weekly 52 12 2.3 0.3 Yes Eskdale Weekly 52 23 3.5 1.0 Yes Glenrowan Weekly 52 48 2.0 0.3 Yes Goorambat Weekly 52 10 0.3 0.2 Yes Harrietville Weekly 52 52 1.5 1.0 Yes Kiewa Weekly 52 0 0.7 0.5 Yes Moyhu Weekly 52 12 0.7 0.5 Yes Mt Beauty Weekly 52 12 1 0.2 Yes Myrtleford Weekly 52 36 1.3 0.8 Yes Oxley Weekly 52 12 1.5 0.6 Yes Porepunkah Weekly 52 0 1.5 0.8 Yes Rutherglen Weekly 52 12 0.3 0.2 Yes Springhurst Weekly 52 12 11 5.5 No See Note 3 St James Weekly 52 12 0.9 0.6 Yes Tallangatta Weekly 52 12 1.0 0.7 Yes Tangambalanga Weekly 52 12 2 1.4 Yes Tawonga/Tawonga Weekly 104 2.9 0.7 Yes See Note 2 South 24 Tungamah Weekly 52 12 0.7 0.4 Yes Wahgunyah Weekly 52 24 0.3 0.3 Yes Walwa Weekly 52 36 1.9 0.8 Yes Wandiligong Weekly 52 12 0.6 0.4 Yes Wangaratta Weekly 156 114 5.9 1.3 Yes See Note 2 Whitfield2 Weekly 52 52 3.0 1.2 Yes Wodonga/Baranduda HL Weekly 52 24 0.9 0.3 Yes Wodonga HL Weekly 104 24 5.8 0.2 Yes See Note 2 Wodonga Logic Weekly 52 12 0.4 0.2 Yes Wodonga LL Weekly 156 24 3.9 0.5 Yes See Note 2 Yackandandah Weekly 52 12 0.6 0.2 Yes Yarrawonga Weekly 104 24 2.8 0.4 Yes See Note 2 1. Result for maximum 95th percentile was determined by reticulation sample data only and did not include tank and entry point data. For future reports our reporting tool will be updated to include tank and entry data. 2. Additional monitoring was conducted at Benalla, Tawonga/Tawonga South, Wangaratta, Wodonga HL, Wodonga LL and Yarrawonga to ensure adequate coverage across these large water sampling localities. 3. A Section 18 report for turbidity was submitted to DHHS. This Turbidity detection was not caused by treatment failure but is suspected to have been caused by a poor quality sample tap. See Section 4.1 for more information.

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3.4.2 Actions in Relation to Non-Compliance All localities were compliant with the turbidity water quality standard during 2016-17 except for Springhurst which exceeded Schedule 2 of the SDWA 2003 for turbidity for the period 1 April 2016 to March 2017 with a result of 5.8 NTU. Springhurst is supplied from the Wodonga WTP and the exceedance was not a result of a treatment failure. In response to this event the reticulation was flushed and a proactive flushing plan has been implemented to improve reticulation water quality. Barnawartha, Beechworth, Cudgewa, Springhurst, Wangaratta and Wodonga failed to meet the ADWG aesthetic guideline for turbidity of 5.0 NTU on one occasion each. These elevated turbidity events were recorded in the reticulation network and were not a result of treatment failure. Causes such as a poor quality sample tap, water main disturbance due to maintenance and sampling anomalies are suspected.

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3.5 OTHER ALGAE, PATHOGEN, CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE THAT MAY POSE A RISK TO HUMAN HEALTH The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2011 (ADWG) provide guidance on many parameters that are found in treated drinking water. The ADWG health and aesthetic guideline values have been listed throughout Section 3.5 where applicable for comparison with results. Table 3-5 sets out the descriptions of the two guideline value types from the ADWG.

Table 3-5 Drinking Water Quality Guideline Value Types and Descriptions (ADWG 2011) Guideline Value Description

Health A value which is the concentration or measure of a water quality characteristic that, based on present knowledge, does not result in any significant risk to the health of the consumer over a lifetime of consumption. Aesthetic A value, which is the concentration or measure of a water quality characteristic that is associated with acceptability of water to the consumer; for example, appearance, taste and odour.

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3.5.1 Metals Metals occur naturally in source waters at low concentrations as a result of weathering of geological formations as well as from anthropogenic sources such as effluents from mining, manufacturing and wastewater discharge.

Aluminium The ADWG 2011 aesthetic standard requires aluminium < 0.2 mg/L. Note that results are expressed to two decimal places and 0.25 and greater is considered not to meet the standard.

Table 3-6 Aluminium Results 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017 Water Sampling Sampling No. of No. of No. Non- Avg. Max. Standard Comments Locality Frequency Retic Tank and complying Result Result Met Samples Entry Results (mg/L) (mg/L) (Yes/No) Samples Barnawartha Monthly 12 0 0 0.02 0.11 Yes Beechworth HL Monthly 12 0 0 0.06 0.37 No See Note 2 Beechworth LL Monthly 12 0 0 0.04 0.21 Yes Bellbridge Monthly 12 0 0 0.02 0.03 Yes Benalla Monthly 12 0 0 0.03 0.20 Yes Bright Monthly 12 1 0 0.02 0.03 Yes Bundalong Monthly 12 0 0 0.02 0.03 Yes Chiltern Monthly 12 0 0 0.02 0.03 Yes Corryong HL Monthly 12 0 0 0.03 0.06 Yes Corryong LL Monthly 12 0 2 0.30 2.10 No See Note 2 Cudgewa Monthly 12 0 1 0.15 1.50 No See Note 2 Dartmouth Monthly 12 0 1 0.06 0.33 No See Note 2 Devenish Monthly 12 0 0 0.02 0.03 Yes Ebden/Baranduda LL Monthly 12 0 0 0.02 0.07 Yes Eskdale Monthly 12 0 0 0.04 0.10 Yes Glenrowan Monthly 12 0 0 0.01 0.03 Yes Goorambat Annually 1 1 0 n/a 0.01 Yes Harrietville Monthly 12 0 0 0.02 0.03 Yes Kiewa Monthly 12 0 0 0.03 0.05 Yes Moyhu Monthly 12 0 0 0.04 0.12 Yes Mt Beauty Monthly 12 0 0 0.03 0.06 Yes Myrtleford Monthly 12 0 2 0.12 0.57 No See Note 2 Oxley Monthly 12 0 0 0.01 0.02 Yes Porepunkah Monthly 12 0 0 0.02 0.08 Yes Rutherglen Monthly 12 0 0 0.02 0.05 Yes Springhurst Monthly 12 0 1 0.07 0.39 No See Note 2 St James Monthly 12 0 0 0.02 0.03 Yes Tallangatta Monthly 12 0 0 0.04 0.09 Yes Tangambalanga Monthly 12 0 0 0.03 0.05 Yes Tawonga/Tawonga Monthly 24 0 0 0.02 0.06 Yes See Note 1 South Tungamah Monthly 12 0 0 0.03 0.04 Yes Wahgunyah Monthly 12 0 0 0.03 0.06 Yes Walwa Monthly 12 0 2 0.33 2.1 No See Note 2 Wandiligong Monthly 12 0 0 0.02 0.06 Yes Wangaratta Monthly 12 0 0 0.02 0.06 Yes Whitfield Monthly 12 0 2 0.12 0.91 No See Note 2 Wodonga/Baranduda Monthly 12 0 0 0.03 0.05 Yes HL Wodonga HL Monthly 12 0 0 0.02 0.04 Yes Wodonga Logic Monthly 12 0 0 0.01 0.02 Yes Wodonga LL Monthly 12 0 0 0.02 0.04 Yes Yackandandah Monthly 12 0 0 0.02 0.03 Yes Yarrawonga Monthly 24 0 0 0.02 0.03 Yes See Note 1 Notes: 1. Additional samples are collected to ensure adequate coverage at these large sampling localities. 2. See Section 3.5.2 for actions where standards were not met.

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Antimony The ADWG 2011 health standard requires antimony < 0.003 mg/L.

Table 3-7 Antimony Results 2016-17 Water Sampling Sampling No. of No. of No. Non- Max. Standard Comments Locality Frequency Retic Tank and complying Result Met Samples Entry Results (mg/L) (Yes/No) Samples Barnawartha Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Beechworth HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Beechworth LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Bellbridge Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Benalla Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Bright Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Bundalong Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Chiltern Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Corryong HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Corryong LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Cudgewa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Dartmouth Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Devenish Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Ebden/Baranduda LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Eskdale Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Glenrowan Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Goorambat Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Harrietville Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Kiewa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Moyhu Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Mt Beauty Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Myrtleford Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Oxley Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Porepunkah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Rutherglen Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Springhurst Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes St James Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Tallangatta Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Tangambalanga Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Tawonga/Tawonga Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes South Tungamah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wahgunyah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Walwa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wandiligong Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wangaratta Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Whitfield Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wodonga/Baranduda Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes HL Wodonga HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wodonga Logic Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wodonga LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Yackandandah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Yarrawonga Biannually 4 0 0 <0.001 Yes Additional samples collected to ensure adequate coverage at this large sampling locality

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Arsenic

The ADWG 2011 health standard requires arsenic < 0.01 mg/L

Table 3-8 Arsenic Results 2016-17 Water Sampling Sampling No. of No. of No. Non- Max. Standard Comments Locality Frequency Retic Tank and complying Result Met Samples Entry Results (mg/L) (Yes/No) Samples Barnawartha Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Beechworth HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Beechworth LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Bellbridge Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Benalla Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Bright Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Bundalong Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Chiltern Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Corryong HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Corryong LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Cudgewa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Dartmouth Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Devenish Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Ebden/Baranduda LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Eskdale Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Glenrowan Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Goorambat Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Harrietville Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Kiewa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Moyhu Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Mt Beauty Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Myrtleford Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Oxley Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Porepunkah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Rutherglen Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Springhurst Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes St James Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Tallangatta Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Tangambalanga Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Tawonga/Tawonga Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes South Tungamah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wahgunyah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Walwa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wandiligong Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wangaratta Biannually 6 11 0 <0.001 Yes Additional sampling conducted at Wangaratta Whitfield Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wodonga/Baranduda Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes HL Wodonga HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wodonga Logic Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wodonga LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Yackandandah Biannually 9 0 0 <0.001 Yes Additional sampling due to detection of arsenic in source water > 0.01 mg/L Yarrawonga Biannually 4 0 0 <0.001 Yes Additional monitoring was conducted at Yarrawonga to ensure adequate coverage across this large water sampling locality.

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Barium The ADWG 2011 health standard requires barium < 2 mg/L.

Table 3-9 Barium Results 2016-17 Water Sampling Sampling No. of No. of Tank No. Non- Max. Standard Comments Locality Frequency Retic and Entry complying Result Met Samples Samples Results (mg/L) (Yes/No) Barnawartha Biannually 2 0 0 0.008 Yes Beechworth HL Biannually 2 0 0 0.005 Yes Beechworth LL Biannually 2 0 0 0.005 Yes Bellbridge Biannually 2 0 0 0.010 Yes Benalla Biannually 2 0 0 0.038 Yes Bright Biannually 2 0 0 0.002 Yes Bundalong Biannually 2 0 0 0.012 Yes Chiltern Biannually 2 0 0 0.008 Yes Corryong HL Biannually 2 0 0 0.009 Yes Corryong LL Biannually 2 0 0 0.009 Yes Cudgewa Biannually 2 0 0 0.013 Yes Dartmouth Biannually 2 0 0 0.008 Yes Devenish Biannually 2 0 0 0.013 Yes Ebden/Baranduda LL Biannually 2 0 0 0.008 Yes Eskdale Biannually 2 0 0 0.007 Yes Glenrowan Biannually 2 0 0 0.013 Yes Goorambat Biannually 2 0 0 0.15 Yes Harrietville Biannually 2 0 0 0.002 Yes Kiewa Biannually 2 0 0 0.009 Yes Moyhu Biannually 2 0 0 0.021 Yes Mt Beauty Biannually 2 0 0 0.003 Yes Myrtleford Biannually 2 0 0 0.003 Yes Oxley Biannually 2 0 0 0.024 Yes Porepunkah Biannually 2 0 0 0.003 Yes Rutherglen Biannually 2 0 0 0.014 Yes Springhurst Biannually 2 0 0 0.008 Yes St James Biannually 2 0 0 0.014 Yes Tallangatta Biannually 2 0 0 0.011 Yes Tangambalanga Biannually 2 0 0 0.008 Yes Tawonga/Tawonga Biannually 2 0 0.004 Yes South 0 Tungamah Biannually 2 0 0 0.013 Yes Wahgunyah Biannually 2 0 0 0.012 Yes Walwa Biannually 2 0 0 0.006 Yes Wandiligong Biannually 2 0 0 0.003 Yes Wangaratta Biannually 2 0 0 0.018 Yes Whitfield Biannually 2 0 0 0.074 Yes Wodonga/Baranduda Biannually 2 0 0.008 Yes HL 0 Wodonga HL Biannually 2 0 0 Yes Wodonga Logic Biannually 2 0 0 0.009 Yes Wodonga LL Biannually 2 0 0 0.010 Yes Yackandandah Biannually 2 0 0 0.003 Yes Yarrawonga Biannually 4 0 0 0.012 Yes Additional monitoring was conducted at Yarrawonga to ensure adequate coverage across this large water sampling locality

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Cadmium The ADWG 2011 health standard requires cadmium < 0.002 mg/L.

Table 3-10 Cadmium Results 2016-17 Water Sampling Sampling No. of No. of Tank No. Non- Max. Standard Comments Locality Frequency Retic and Entry complying Result Met Samples Samples Results (mg/L) (Yes/No) Barnawartha Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Beechworth HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Beechworth LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Bellbridge Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Benalla Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Bright Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Bundalong Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Chiltern Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Corryong HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Corryong LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Cudgewa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Dartmouth Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Devenish Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Ebden/Baranduda LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Eskdale Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Glenrowan Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Goorambat Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Harrietville Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Kiewa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Moyhu Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Mt Beauty Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Myrtleford Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Oxley Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Porepunkah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Rutherglen Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Springhurst Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes St James Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Tallangatta Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Tangambalanga Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Tawonga/Tawonga Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes South Tungamah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Wahgunyah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Walwa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Wandiligong Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Wangaratta Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Whitfield Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Wodonga/Baranduda Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes HL Wodonga HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Wodonga Logic Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Wodonga LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Yackandandah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Yarrawonga Biannually 4 0 0 <0.0002 Yes Additional monitoring was conducted at Yarrawonga to ensure adequate coverage across this large water sampling localities

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Chromium The ADWG 2011 health standard requires chromium < 0.05 mg/L.

Table 3-11Chromium Results 2016-17 Water Sampling Sampling No. of No. of No. Non- Max. Standard Comments Locality Frequency Retic Tank and complying Result Met Samples Entry Results (mg/L) (Yes/No) Samples Barnawartha Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Beechworth HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Beechworth LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Bellbridge Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Benalla Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Bright Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Bundalong Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Chiltern Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Corryong HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Corryong LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Cudgewa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Dartmouth Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Devenish Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Ebden/Baranduda LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Eskdale Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Glenrowan Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Goorambat Biannually 2 0 0 0.001 Yes Harrietville Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Kiewa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Moyhu Biannually 2 0 0 0.005 Yes Mt Beauty Biannually 2 0 0 0.004 Yes Myrtleford Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Oxley Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Porepunkah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Rutherglen Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Springhurst Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes St James Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Tallangatta Biannually 2 0 0 0.006 Yes Tangambalanga Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Tawonga/Tawonga Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes South Tungamah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wahgunyah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Walwa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wandiligong Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wangaratta Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Whitfield Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wodonga/Baranduda Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes HL Wodonga HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wodonga Logic Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wodonga LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Yackandandah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Yarrawonga Biannually 4 0 0 <0.001 Yes Additional monitoring was conducted at Yarrawonga to ensure adequate coverage across this large water sampling locality

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Copper The ADWG (2011) health standard requires copper < 2 mg/L.

The ADWG (2011) aesthetic standard requires copper < 1 mg/L.

Table 3-12 Copper Results 2016-17 Water Sampling Sampling No. of No. of No. Non- Max. Standard Comments Locality Frequency Retic Tank and complying Result Met Samples Entry Results (mg/L) (Yes/No) Samples Barnawartha Biannually 2 0 0 0.013 Yes Beechworth HL Biannually 2 0 0 0.010 Yes Beechworth LL Biannually 2 0 0 0.007 Yes Bellbridge Biannually 2 0 0 0.017 Yes Benalla Biannually 2 0 0 0.004 Yes Bright Biannually 2 0 0 0.089 Yes Bundalong Biannually 2 0 0 0.021 Yes Chiltern Biannually 2 0 0 0.012 Yes Corryong HL Biannually 2 0 0 0.050 Yes Corryong LL Biannually 2 0 0 0.077 Yes Cudgewa Biannually 2 0 0 0.003 Yes Dartmouth Biannually 2 0 0 0.005 Yes Devenish Biannually 2 0 0 0.010 Yes Ebden/Baranduda LL Biannually 2 0 0 0.014 Yes Eskdale Biannually 2 0 0 0.130 Yes Glenrowan Biannually 2 0 0 0.004 Yes Goorambat Biannually 2 0 0 0.024 Yes Harrietville Biannually 2 0 0 0.001 Yes Kiewa Biannually 2 0 0 0.008 Yes Moyhu Biannually 2 0 0 0.030 Yes Mt Beauty Biannually 2 0 0 0.006 Yes Myrtleford Biannually 2 0 0 0.006 Yes Oxley Biannually 2 0 0 0.160 Yes Porepunkah Biannually 2 0 0 0.015 Yes Rutherglen Biannually 2 0 0 0.005 Yes Springhurst Biannually 2 0 0 0.016 Yes St James Biannually 2 0 0 0.009 Yes Tallangatta Biannually 2 0 0 0.019 Yes Tangambalanga Biannually 2 0 0 0.052 Yes Tawonga/Tawonga Biannually 2 0 0 0.040 Yes South Tungamah Biannually 2 0 0 0.025 Yes Wahgunyah Biannually 2 0 0 0.003 Yes Walwa Biannually 2 0 0 0.006 Yes Wandiligong Biannually 2 0 0 0.038 Yes Wangaratta Biannually 2 0 0 0.021 Yes Whitfield Biannually 2 0 0 0.045 Yes Wodonga/Baranduda Biannually 2 0 0 0.013 Yes HL Wodonga HL Biannually 2 0 0 0.007 Yes Wodonga Logic Biannually 2 0 0 0.011 Yes Wodonga LL Biannually 2 0 0 0.082 Yes Yackandandah Biannually 2 0 0 0.049 Yes Yarrawonga Biannually 4 0 0 0.005 Yes Additional monitoring was conducted at Yarrawonga to ensure adequate coverage across this large water sampling locality

North East Water Page 27 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

Lead The ADWG (2011) health standard requires lead < 0.01 mg/L.

Table 3-13 Lead Results 2016-17 Water Sampling Sampling No. of No. of No. Non- Max. Standard Comments Locality Frequency Retic Tank and complying Result Met Samples Entry Results (mg/L) (Yes/No) Samples Barnawartha Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Beechworth HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Beechworth LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Bellbridge Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Benalla Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Bright Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Bundalong Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Chiltern Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Corryong HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Corryong LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Cudgewa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Dartmouth Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Devenish Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Ebden/Baranduda LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Eskdale Biannually 2 0 0 0.004 Yes Glenrowan Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Goorambat Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Harrietville Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Kiewa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Moyhu Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Mt Beauty Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Myrtleford Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Oxley Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Porepunkah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Rutherglen Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Springhurst Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes St James Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Tallangatta Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Tangambalanga Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Tawonga/Tawonga 0 <0.001 South Biannually 2 0 Yes Tungamah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wahgunyah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Walwa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wandiligong Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wangaratta Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Whitfield Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wodonga/Baranduda 0 <0.001 HL Biannually 2 0 Yes Wodonga HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wodonga Logic Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wodonga LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Yackandandah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Yarrawonga Biannually 4 0 0 <0.001 Yes Additional monitoring was conducted at Yarrawonga to ensure adequate coverage across this large water sampling localities

North East Water Page 28 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

Manganese The ADWG (2011) health standard requires manganese < 0.5 mg/L.

The ADWG (2011) aesthetic standard requires manganese < 0.1 mg/L.

Table 3-14 Manganese Results 2016-17 Water Sampling Sampling No. of No. of No. Non- Max. Standard Comments Locality Frequency Retic Tank and complying Result Met Samples Entry Results (mg/L) (Yes/No) Samples Barnawartha Monthly 12 0 0 0.069 Yes Beechworth HL Monthly 12 0 0 0.002 Yes Beechworth LL Monthly 12 0 0 <0.001 Yes Bellbridge Weekly 52 52 0 0.018 Yes Benalla Weekly 52 53 0 0.075 Yes Bright Monthly 12 1 0 <0.01 Yes Bundalong Monthly 12 0 0 0.009 Yes Chiltern Monthly 12 0 0 0.003 Yes Corryong HL Monthly 12 0 0 0.001 Yes Corryong LL Monthly 12 0 0 0.003 Yes Cudgewa Monthly 12 0 0 0.006 Yes Dartmouth Monthly 12 12 0 0.046 Yes Devenish Monthly 12 0 0 0.006 Yes Ebden/Baranduda LL Monthly 12 0 0 0.008 Yes Eskdale Monthly 12 11 0 0.010 Yes Glenrowan Monthly 12 0 0 0.012 Yes Goorambat Monthly 12 0 0 0.001 Yes Harrietville Monthly 12 0 0 0.009 Yes Kiewa Monthly 12 0 0 0.006 Yes Moyhu Monthly 12 0 0 0.005 Yes Mt Beauty Monthly 12 0 0 <0.001 Yes Myrtleford Monthly 12 0 0 0.005 Yes Oxley Monthly 12 0 0 0.001 Yes Porepunkah Monthly 12 0 0 0.002 Yes Rutherglen Monthly 12 0 0 0.004 Yes Springhurst Monthly 12 0 0 0.049 Yes St James Monthly 12 0 0 0.008 Yes Tallangatta Weekly 66 32 0 0.050 Yes Additional samples were collected at Tallangatta due to high levels of manganese in the raw water Tangambalanga Monthly 12 0 0 0.008 Yes Tawonga/Tawonga Monthly 24 0 0 <0.001 Yes Additional monitoring was South conducted at these sites to ensure adequate coverage across this large water sampling locality Tungamah Monthly 12 0 0 0.008 Yes Wahgunyah Monthly 12 1 0 0.009 Yes Walwa Monthly 12 0 0 0.007 Yes Wandiligong Monthly 12 0 0 0.002 Yes Wangaratta Monthly 12 12 1 0.400 No The aesthetic Standard was not met at Wangaratta on 8 June 2017 Whitfield Monthly 12 0 1 0.140 No The aesthetic Standard was not met at Whitfield on 6 December 2016 Wodonga/Baranduda Monthly 12 0 0 0.003 Yes HL Wodonga HL Monthly 12 0 0 0.006 Yes Wodonga Logic Monthly 12 0 0 0.002 Yes Wodonga LL Monthly 12 1 0 0.007 Yes Yackandandah Monthly 12 0 0 <0.001 Yes Yarrawonga Monthly 24 13 0 0.014 Yes Additional monitoring was conducted at these sites to ensure adequate coverage across this large water sampling locality

North East Water Page 29 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

Mercury The ADWG (2011) health standard requires mercury < 0.001 mg/L.

Table 3-15 Mercury Results 2016-17 Water Sampling Sampling No. of No. of No. Non- Max. Standard Comments Locality Frequency Retic Tank complying Result Met Samples and Results (mg/L) (Yes/No) Entry Samples Barnawartha Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Beechworth HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Beechworth LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Bellbridge Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Benalla Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Bright Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Bundalong Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Chiltern Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Corryong HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Corryong LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Cudgewa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Dartmouth Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Devenish Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Ebden/Baranduda LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Eskdale Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Glenrowan Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Goorambat Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Harrietville Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Kiewa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Moyhu Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Mt Beauty Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Myrtleford Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Oxley Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Porepunkah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Rutherglen Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Springhurst Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes St James Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Tallangatta Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Tangambalanga Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Tawonga/Tawonga Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes South Tungamah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Wahgunyah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Walwa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Wandiligong Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Wangaratta Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Whitfield Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Wodonga/Baranduda Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes HL Wodonga HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Wodonga Logic Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Wodonga LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Yackandandah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Yarrawonga Biannually 4 0 0 <0.0001 Yes Additional monitoring was conducted at Yarrawonga to ensure adequate coverage across this large sampling locality

North East Water Page 30 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

Molybdenum The ADWG (2011) health standard requires molybdenum < 0.05 mg/L.

Table 3-16 Molybdenum Results 2016-17 Water Sampling Sampling No. of No. of No. Non- Max. Standard Comments Locality Frequency Retic Tank and complying Result Met Samples Entry Results (mg/L) (Yes/No) Samples Barnawartha Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Beechworth HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Beechworth LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Bellbridge Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Benalla Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Bright Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Bundalong Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Chiltern Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Corryong HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Corryong LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Cudgewa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Dartmouth Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Devenish Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Ebden/Baranduda LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Eskdale Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Glenrowan Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Goorambat Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Harrietville Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Kiewa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Moyhu Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Mt Beauty Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Myrtleford Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Oxley Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Porepunkah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Rutherglen Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Springhurst Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes St James Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Tallangatta Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Tangambalanga Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Tawonga/Tawonga Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes South Tungamah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wahgunyah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Walwa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wandiligong Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wangaratta Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Whitfield Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wodonga/Baranduda Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes HL Wodonga HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wodonga Logic Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wodonga LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Yackandandah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Yarrawonga Biannually 4 0 0 <0.001 Yes Additional monitoring was conducted at Yarrawonga to ensure adequate coverage across this large sampling locality

North East Water Page 31 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

Nickel The ADWG (2011) health standard requires nickel < 0.02 mg/L.

Table 3-17 Nickel Results 2016-17 Water Sampling Sampling No. of No. of No. Non- Max. Standard Comments Locality Frequency Retic Tank and complying Result Met Samples Entry Results (mg/L) (Yes/No) Samples Barnawartha Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Beechworth HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Beechworth LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Bellbridge Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Benalla Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Bright Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Bundalong Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Chiltern Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Corryong HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Corryong LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Cudgewa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Dartmouth Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Devenish Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Ebden/Baranduda LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Eskdale Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Glenrowan Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Goorambat Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Harrietville Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Kiewa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Moyhu Biannually 2 0 0 0.005 Yes Mt Beauty Biannually 2 0 0 0.003 Yes Myrtleford Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Oxley Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Porepunkah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Rutherglen Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Springhurst Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes St James Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Tallangatta Biannually 2 0 0 0.005 Yes Tangambalanga Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Tawonga/Tawonga Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes South Tungamah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wahgunyah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Walwa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wandiligong Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wangaratta Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Whitfield Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wodonga/Baranduda Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes HL Wodonga HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wodonga Logic Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wodonga LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Yackandandah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Yarrawonga1 Biannually 4 0 0 <0.001 Yes Additional monitoring was conducted at Yarrawonga to ensure adequate coverage across this large sampling locality

North East Water Page 32 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

Selenium The ADWG (2011) health standard requires selenium < 0.01 mg/L.

Table 3-18 Selenium Results 2016-17 Water Sampling Sampling No. of No. of No. Non- Max. Standard Comments Locality Frequency Retic Tank complying Result Met Samples and Results (mg/L) (Yes/No) Entry Samples Barnawartha Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Beechworth HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Beechworth LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Bellbridge Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Benalla Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Bright Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Bundalong Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Chiltern Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Corryong HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Corryong LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Cudgewa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Dartmouth Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Devenish Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Ebden/Baranduda LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Eskdale Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Glenrowan Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Goorambat Biannually 2 0 0 0.002 Yes Harrietville Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Kiewa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Moyhu Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Mt Beauty Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Myrtleford Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Oxley Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Porepunkah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Rutherglen Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Springhurst Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes St James Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Tallangatta Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Tangambalanga Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Tawonga/Tawonga Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes South Tungamah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wahgunyah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Walwa Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wandiligong Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wangaratta Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Whitfield Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wodonga/Baranduda Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes HL Wodonga HL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wodonga Logic Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Wodonga LL Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Yackandandah Biannually 2 0 0 <0.001 Yes Yarrawonga1 Biannually 4 0 0 <0.001 Yes Additional monitoring was conducted at Yarrawonga to ensure adequate coverage across this large sampling locality.

North East Water Page 33 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

Zinc The ADWG (2011) aesthetic standard requires zinc < 3 mg/L.

Table 3-19 Zinc Results 2016-17 Water Sampling Sampling No. of No. of No. Non- Max. Standard Comments Locality Frequency Retic Tank and complying Result Met Samples Entry Results (mg/L) (Yes/No) Samples Barnawartha Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.006 n/a Beechworth HL Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.003 n/a Beechworth LL Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.001 n/a Bellbridge Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.017 n/a Benalla Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.005 n/a Bright Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.015 n/a Bundalong Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.005 n/a Chiltern Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.006 n/a Corryong HL Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.014 n/a Corryong LL Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.006 n/a Cudgewa Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.010 n/a Dartmouth Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.031 n/a Devenish Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.007 n/a Ebden/Baranduda LL Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.003 n/a Eskdale Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.036 n/a Glenrowan Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.004 n/a Goorambat Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.024 n/a Harrietville Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.004 n/a Kiewa Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.028 n/a Moyhu Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.003 n/a Mt Beauty Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.029 n/a Myrtleford Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.005 n/a Oxley Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.004 n/a Porepunkah Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.008 n/a Rutherglen Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.002 n/a Springhurst Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.29 n/a St James Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.005 n/a Tallangatta Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.029 n/a Tangambalanga Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.009 n/a Tawonga/Tawonga Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.004 n/a South Tungamah Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.009 n/a Wahgunyah Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.003 n/a Walwa Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.008 n/a Wandiligong Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.012 n/a Wangaratta Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.006 n/a Whitfield Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.017 n/a Wodonga/Baranduda Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.006 n/a HL Wodonga HL Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.006 n/a Wodonga Logic Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.006 n/a Wodonga LL Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.014 n/a Yackandandah Biannually 2 0 n/a 0.004 n/a Yarrawonga1 Biannually 4 0 n/a 0.011 n/a Additional monitoring was conducted at Yarrawonga to ensure adequate coverage across this large sampling locality

3.5.2 Actions in Relation to Metals All samples met the ADWG (2011) health guideline values for metals in 2016-17 and all samples met the ADWG (2011) aesthetic guideline values for metals aside from aluminium and manganese (Table 3-6 and Table 3-14 respectively). Aluminium Beechworth HL, Corryong LL, Cudgewa, Dartmouth, Myrtleford, Springhurst, Walwa and Whitfield failed to meet the ADWG (2011) aesthetic standard for aluminium in 2016-17. Figure 3-1 sets out monthly aluminium concentrations for these localities for 2016-17.

North East Water Page 34 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

At the time of the elevated aluminium result at Beechworth there had recently been changes made to the alum dosing due to changing source water quality. However, operational testing over this time period did not detect aluminium break through. For all other elevated aluminium results, there was no indication of treatment or process issues that would contribute to elevated aluminium concentrations.

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

Concentration (mg/L) Concentration 0.5

0.0

Beechworth HL Corryong LL Cudgewa Dartmouth Myrtleford Springhurst Walwa Whitfield

Figure 3-1 Acid-soluble Aluminium Results for 2016-17 for Localities that Failed to meet the ADWG (2011) Aesthetic Standard

Manganese Wangaratta and Whitfield failed to meet the ADWG (2011) aesthetic standard for manganese in 2016- 17. Figure 3-2 sets out monthly aluminium concentrations for these localities for 2016-17.

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

Concentration (mg/L) Concentration 0.1

0.0

Wangaratta Whitfield

Figure 3-1 Manganese Results for 2016-17 for Localities that Failed to meet the ADWG (2011) Aesthetic Standard

North East Water Page 35 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

3.5.3 Fluoride The safe fluoridation of water supplies helps protect teeth against dental decay in children and adults. The Code of practice for fluoridation of drinking water supplies supports the implementation of the Health (Fluoridation) Act 1973 and specifies the requirements for water fluoridation plants to ensure the safe and effective addition of fluoride to drinking water supplies. North East Water doses fluoride at four water treatment plants and connected localities:  Benalla  Wangaratta including Glenrowan  Wodonga, including Kiewa, Tangambalanga, Logic Centre, Barnawartha, Chiltern and Springhurst  Yarrawonga, including Bundalong, Tungamah, St James and Devenish North East Water’s target fluoride dose for drinking water is 0.80 mg/L (± 0.05).

Table 3-20 Fluoride Results 2016-17 No. of No. of Average Max. Water Sampling Sampling Tank and Retic Result Result Comments Locality Frequency Entry Samples (mg/L) (mg/L) Samples Barnawartha Monthly 12 0 0.70 0.82 Additional samples are collected to Benalla Weekly 104 0 0.71 0.84 ensure adequate coverage at these large sampling localities Bundalong Monthly 12 0 0.70 0.82 Chiltern Monthly 12 0 0.68 0.79 Ebden/Baranduda LL Monthly 12 0 0.63 0.78 Glenrowan Weekly 52 0 0.65 0.78 Kiewa Monthly 12 0 0.70 0.81 Springhurst Monthly 12 0 0.69 0.82 St James Monthly 12 0 0.73 0.81 Tangambalanga Monthly 12 0 0.69 0.80 Tungamah Monthly 12 0 0.73 0.85 Additional samples are collected to Wangaratta Weekly 104 10 0.64 0.83 ensure adequate coverage at these large sampling localities Wodonga/Baranduda Monthly 12 0 0.71 0.83 HL Wodonga HL Monthly 12 0 0.70 0.79 Wodonga Logic Monthly 12 0 0.68 0.79 Additional samples are collected to Wodonga LL Weekly 104 0 0.68 0.82 ensure adequate coverage at these large sampling localities Additional samples are collected to Yarrawonga Weekly 104 0 0.70 0.85 ensure adequate coverage at these large sampling localities

There was one fluoride offline notification to DHHS during 2016-17 for the Wangaratta WTP. On 7 July 2016 the fluoride dosing system was turned off to allow for repairs to a leak in the dosing system. Fluoride dosing recommenced in Wangaratta on 16 August 2016. Fluoride was also offline at the Yarrawonga WTP, Benalla WTP and the Wangaratta WTP during 2016-17 for periods less than 72 hours. The reasons for the fluoride being offline for these short periods include: leaks in the dosing system, delays in getting parts and electrical shutdowns.

3.5.4 Infrequently Monitored Parameters Infrequently monitored parameters include pesticides and herbicides, organic chemicals and radiological parameters.

Pesticides and Herbicides North East Water’s pesticide and herbicide monitoring program is based on risk profiles and the nature of agricultural activity within catchments across our region. Pesticides and herbicides are

North East Water Page 36 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

monitored on a supply system level and results are representative of the water supplied to customers’ taps. Results have been categorised under groups of parameters. A list of pesticides and herbicides that makes up each group can be found in Appendix 1. All pesticide results in 2016-17 were within the ADWG health guideline values where applicable (Table 3-20). Not all pesticides and herbicides have a health guideline value listed in ADWG.

North East Water Page 37 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

Table 3-20 Pesticide and Herbicide Results Maximum Result (µg/L)

Sampling Standard

Supply System chlorine Frequency anilines

- - Met

phosphate phosphate - (Yes/No)

Amitrole

Phenolic Phenolic

Pesticides Pesticides

Herbicides

Fungicides

Glyphosate

Carbamates

Compounds

Sulfonylurea Sulfonylurea

Dinitro

Organo

Organo

Triazine Herbicides Triazine

Phenoxy Herbicides Phenoxy Beechworth Biannually <10 <0.1 <10 <30 <0.05 < 0.1 <0.5 <1 <0.01 <0.2 <0.05 Yes Bellbridge Biannually <10 <0.1 <10 <30 <0.05 < 0.1 <0.5 <1 <0.02 <0.2 <0.05 Yes Benalla Annually <10 <0.1 <10 <30 <0.05 < 0.1 <0.5 <1 <0.01 <0.2 <0.05 Yes Bright Biannually <10 <0.1 <10 <30 <0.05 < 0.1 <0.5 <1 <0.01 <0.2 <0.05 Yes Corryong Biannually <10 <0.1 <10 <30 <0.05 < 0.1 <0.5 <1 <0.01 <0.2 <0.05 Yes Dartmouth Biannually <10 <0.1 <10 <30 <0.05 < 0.1 <0.5 <1 <0.02 <0.2 <0.05 Yes Eskdale Annually <10 <0.1 <10 <30 <0.05 < 0.1 <0.5 <1 <0.01 <0.2 <0.05 Yes Goorambat Biannually <10 <0.1 <10 <30 <0.05 < 0.1 <0.5 <1 <0.01 <0.2 <0.05 Yes Harrietville Annually <10 <0.1 <10 <30 <0.05 < 0.1 <0.5 <1 <0.01 <0.2 <0.05 Yes Moyhu Biannually <10 <0.1 <10 <30 <0.05 < 0.1 <0.5 <1 <0.01 <0.2 <0.05 Yes Myrtleford Biannually <10 <0.1 <10 <30 <0.05 < 0.1 <0.5 <1 <0.01 <0.2 <0.05 Yes Mt Beauty Biannually <10 <0.1 <10 <30 <0.05 < 0.1 <0.5 <1 <0.01 <0.2 <0.05 Yes Oxley Biannually <10 <0.1 <10 <30 <0.05 < 0.1 <0.5 <1 <0.02 <0.2 <0.05 Yes Tallangatta Biannually <10 <0.1 <10 <30 <0.05 < 0.1 <0.5 <1 <0.03 <0.2 <0.05 Yes Wahgunyah Biannually <10 <0.1 <10 <30 <0.05 < 0.1 <0.5 <1 <0.01 <0.2 <0.05 Yes Walwa Annually <10 <0.1 <10 <30 <0.05 < 0.1 <0.5 <1 <0.01 <0.2 <0.05 Yes Wangaratta Biannually <10 <0.1 <10 <30 <0.05 < 0.1 <0.5 <1 <0.01 <0.2 <0.05 Yes Whitfield Biannually <10 <0.1 <10 <30 <0.05 < 0.1 <0.5 <1 <0.03 <0.2 <0.05 Yes Wodonga Biannually <10 <0.1 <10 <30 <0.05 < 0.1 <0.5 <1 <0.01 <0.2 0.08 Yes Yackandandah Biannually <10 <0.1 <10 <30 <0.05 < 0.1 <0.5 <1 <0.01 <0.2 <0.05 Yes Yarrawonga Biannually <10 <0.1 <10 <30 <0.05 < 0.1 <0.5 <1 <0.08 <0.2 0.1 Yes

North East Water Page 38 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

Organic Chemicals Organic chemicals are tested on a supply system basis and results are representative of the water supplied to customers’ taps. Results are categorised under groups of parameters. A list of organic chemicals that make up each group can be found in Appendix 2. All organic chemical results in 2016- 17 were within the ADWG (2011) health and aesthetic guideline values where applicable (Table 3-21). Not all organic chemicals have a health guideline value listed in ADWG (2011).

Table 3-21 Organic Chemical Results 2016-17 Supply Sampling Maximum Test Result (mg/L) System Frequency Volatile Polycyclic BTEX Standard Organic Aromatic Met Compounds Hydrocarbons (Yes/No)

Beechworth Biannually <0.001 <0.000002 <0.001 Yes Bellbridge Biannually <0.001 <0.000002 <0.001 Yes Benalla Biannually <0.001 <0.000002 <0.001 Yes Bright Biannually <0.001 <0.000002 <0.001 Yes Corryong Biannually <0.001 <0.000002 <0.001 Yes Dartmouth Biannually <0.001 <0.000002 <0.001 Yes Eskdale Biannually <0.001 <0.000002 <0.001 Yes Goorambat Biannually <0.001 <0.000002 <0.001 Yes Harrietville Biannually <0.001 <0.000002 <0.001 Yes Moyhu Biannually <0.001 <0.000002 <0.001 Yes Mt Beauty Biannually <0.001 <0.000002 <0.001 Yes Myrtleford Biannually <0.001 <0.000002 <0.001 Yes Oxley Biannually <0.001 <0.000002 <0.001 Yes Tallangatta Biannually <0.001 <0.000002 <0.001 Yes Wahgunyah Biannually <0.001 <0.000002 <0.001 Yes Walwa Biannually <0.001 <0.000002 <0.001 Yes Wangaratta Biannually <0.001 <0.000002 <0.001 Yes Whitfield Biannually <0.001 <0.000002 <0.001 Yes Wodonga Biannually <0.001 <0.000002 <0.001 Yes Yackandandah Biannually <0.001 <0.000002 <0.001 Yes Yarrawonga Biannually <0.001 <0.000002 <0.001 Yes

Radiological Parameters The risk of radiological parameters being present in North East Water’s supply systems has been deemed to be low via North East Water’s risk assessment process. Historical data indicates that groundwater supplies are more at risk than surface water supplies. Radiological parameters are monitored typically every five years, at risk-based frequencies or upon commissioning of new supply sources. Radiological testing was conducted routinely at six supply systems in 2016-17.Table 3-22 sets out radiological concentrations recorded in 2016-17. Gross alpha activity and gross beta activity are indicators of total radiological activity. All results met the ADWG (2011) screening level for gross alpha and gross beta activity of <0.5 Bq/L.

Table 3-22 Gross Radiological Activity Results 2016-17 Result (Bq/L) Supply System Water Source Gross Alpha Activity Gross Beta Activity Bellbridge Lake Hume <0.05 <0.10 Harrietville Ovens River <0.05 <0.10 Moyhu King River <0.05 <0.10 Mt Beauty Tawonga Basin <0.05 <0.10 Myrtleford Nil Gully Reservoir <0.05 <0.10 Oxley King River <0.05 <0.10

North East Water Page 39 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

3.5.5 Actions in Relation to Infrequently Monitored Parameters All supply systems/water sampling localities met ADWG (2011) guideline values for pesticides, organic chemicals and radiological parameters where applicable in 2016-17.

3.5.6 Raw Water Monitoring Raw water (also known as source water) is water in rivers, groundwater, reservoirs and basins prior to any treatment processes. Raw water can contain impurities in the form of colloid matter (soil, etc.), pathogens and viruses, algae and other matter that may pose a risk to health prior to treatment. A range of physical, chemical and microbiological parameters are monitored on a regular basis to characterise the source water and enable appropriate treatment. The monitoring of source water also provides warning of potential changes in water quality from catchments, which could affect WTP performance. Raw water monitoring is conducted in all water treatment systems, either at the natural water course or from the raw water reservoir at the WTP. Each of the parameters in Table 3-23 are routinely tested for in raw water. The frequency of testing is risk and event based.

Table 3-23 List of Raw Water Sampling Parameters Parameter Range of sampling frequency

E. coli Weekly or monthly Coliforms Weekly or monthly Field Temperature Weekly or monthly Turbidity Monthly True Colour Monthly Alkalinity Quarterly Electrical Conductivity Monthly1 Arsenic Quarterly2 Iron Monthly Manganese Monthly3 Metal Scan Annual4 Total Phosphorus Quarterly Total Nitrogen Quarterly Ultraviolet Transmissivity Monthly Total Organic Carbon Quarterly5 Pesticides and Herbicides Biannually or Annually Organic Chemicals Biannually Algae Fortnightly or monthly November – March Radiological Every 5 years Geosmin/MIB Event based PFAS6 Annually Fluoride7 Monthly to quarterly 1. Monthly testing at Goorambat bore 2. Monthly testing at Yackandandah due to presence in raw water 3. Weekly testing at Tallangatta, Bellbridge and Benalla due to presence in raw water 4. Quarterly metal scan at Goorambat bore 5. Monthly at sites where PAC is dosed 6. Annually at Kerr St Bore No. 1 and Bore No. 2 7. Monthly or quarterly on source waters

Algal Monitoring Algal monitoring (including cyanobacteria or blue-green algae) is conducted in accordance with North East Water’s Algae Response Plan and Water Quality Monitoring Plan. The algae monitoring program considers the susceptibility of source waters to algal issues and varies the focus of monitoring depending on the seasonal risk and conditions for algal growth. Samples are analysed for algae relative abundance and blue-green algae biovolume.

North East Water Page 40 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

Table 3-24 sets out the number of algae samples conducted across each water supply system in 2016-17. Sampling frequency is seasonal and risk-based. In addition to this testing, Geosmin and 2-Methylisoborneol (MIB) (taste and odour compounds) and toxins are sampled in source and treated drinking water as required. During 2016-17, geosmin and MIB tests were conducted at four localities and there was no algae toxin testing conducted. Contingencies in the event of an algal event include alternative supplies for smaller supply systems and the addition of powdered activated carbon (PAC) dosing in many susceptible supply systems to remove algal tastes, odours and toxins in treated drinking water.

Table 3-24 Source Water Algae Monitoring Program Details 2016-17 Supply System No. of Samples Beechworth 9 Bellbridge 9 Benalla 12 Bright 11 Corryong 10 Dartmouth 12 Oxley 5 Mount Beauty 3 Myrtleford 3 Tallangatta 9 Wahgunyah 5 Wangaratta 4 Wodonga 13 Yackandandah 5

Pathogen Monitoring Program Pathogen risk varies between localities depending on catchment conditions and North East Water ensures that water treatment barriers and processes are in place to minimise pathogen risk in treated drinking water. Pathogen parameters monitored in raw water in 2016-17 are listed in Table 3-25.

Table 3-25 Source Water Pathogen Monitoring Parameter Details 2016-17 Parameter Name Sampling Frequency No. Samples Coliforms Weekly to Monthly 787 E. coli Weekly to Monthly 787 Enterococci Varies/Risk-based 12

North East Water Page 41 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

3.6 AESTHETICS Aesthetic characteristics monitored in the reticulation include pH, iron, hardness and colour as well as taste and odour. ‘Aesthetic’ refers to the acceptability of the concentrations or measures of these characteristics to the consumer. Taste, odour and clarity are less tangible aesthetic measures. Alkalinity is measured as part of the treatment plant process at all water treatment plants, but is not measured within the water reticulation and hence not included in this section.

3.6.1 pH The ADWG (2011) aesthetic standard requires pH is between 6.5 and 8.5 units.

Table 3-26 pH Results 2016-17 Water Sampling Sampling No. of No. of Non- Min. Result Max. Result Locality Frequency Samples complying (units) (units) Results Barnawartha Weekly 52 0 7.1 7.6 Beechworth HL Weekly 52 0 7.0 7.4 Beechworth LL Weekly 52 0 7.0 8.0 Bellbridge Weekly 52 0 6.7 7.4 Benalla1 Weekly 104 0 6.7 8.5 Bright Weekly 52 0 7.0 7.5 Bundalong Weekly 52 0 7.4 8.0 Chiltern Weekly 52 0 7.3 7.9 Corryong HL Weekly 52 0 7.2 8.0 Corryong LL Weekly 52 0 7.2 7.7 Cudgewa2 Weekly 194 0 6.8 9.1 Dartmouth Weekly 52 0 7.0 9.1 Devenish Weekly 52 0 7.5 8.5 Ebden/Baranduda LL Weekly 52 0 6.9 7.8 Eskdale Weekly 52 0 7.0 7.5 Glenrowan Weekly 52 0 7.4 8.0 Goorambat Weekly 52 0 7.0 7.3 Harrietville Weekly 52 0 7.1 8.5 Kiewa Weekly 52 0 7.0 7.7 Moyhu Weekly 52 0 6.9 7.8 Mt Beauty Weekly 52 0 6.9 9.2 Myrtleford Weekly 52 0 7.6 8.1 Oxley Weekly 52 0 6.7 7.3 Porepunkah Weekly 52 0 6.8 8.3 Rutherglen Weekly 52 0 7.2 8.7 Springhurst Weekly 52 0 7.8 8.6 St James Weekly 52 0 7.2 7.6 Tallangatta Weekly 52 0 7.0 8.0 Tangambalanga Weekly 52 0 7.2 7.7 Tawonga/Tawonga Weekly 104 0 6.9 10.3 South1 Tungamah Weekly 52 0 7.2 7.7 Wahgunyah Weekly 52 0 7.0 7.6 Walwa Weekly 52 0 6.9 9.7 Wandiligong Weekly 52 0 7.0 7.5 Wangaratta1 Weekly 156 0 6.8 9.4

Whitfield Weekly 52 0 6.9 7.8 Wodonga/Baranduda Weekly 52 0 6.9 7.9 HL Wodonga HL1 Weekly 104 0 7.0 7.8 Wodonga Logic Weekly 52 0 7.0 7.5 Wodonga LL1 Weekly 156 0 6.9 7.8 Yackandandah Weekly 52 0 6.7 8.5 Yarrawonga1 Weekly 104 0 7.0 8.2 Notes: 1. Additional samples are collected to ensure adequate coverage at these large sampling localities. 2. Additional samples collected for monitoring trial CO2 dosing.

North East Water Page 42 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

3.6.2 Iron The ADWG (2011) aesthetic standard requires iron < 0.3 mg/L.

Table 3-27 Iron Results 2016-17 Water Sampling Locality Sampling Frequency No. of No. of Non- Min. Result Max. Result Samples complying (mg/L) (mg/L) Results Barnawartha Monthly 12 1 0.01 1.1 Beechworth HL Monthly 12 0 <0.01 <0.1 Beechworth LL Monthly 12 0 0.01 0.06 Bellbridge Monthly 12 1 <0.01 0.32 Benalla Monthly 12 0 <0.01 0.01 Bright Monthly 12 0 <0.01 0.02 Bundalong Monthly 12 0 <0.01 <0.01 Chiltern Monthly 12 0 0.01 0.04 Corryong HL Monthly 12 0 0.01 0.12 Corryong LL Monthly 12 0 <0.01 0.14 Cudgewa Monthly 12 1 0.01 0.32 Dartmouth Monthly 12 0 0.01 0.10 Devenish Monthly 12 0 0.02 0.07 Ebden/Baranduda LL Monthly 12 0 <0.01 0.11 Eskdale Monthly 12 0 <0.01 0.02 Glenrowan Monthly 12 0 <0.01 0.06 Goorambat Monthly 12 0 0.01 0.02 Harrietville Monthly 12 0 <0.01 <0.01 Kiewa Monthly 12 0 <0.01 <0.01 Moyhu Monthly 12 0 <0.01 0.05 Mt Beauty Monthly 12 0 0.01 0.05 Myrtleford Monthly 12 0 <0.01 0.03 Oxley Monthly 12 0 0.01 0.03 Porepunkah Monthly 12 0 <0.01 0.06 Rutherglen Monthly 12 0 0.01 0.03 Springhurst Monthly 12 1 0.01 0.77 St James Monthly 12 0 0.01 0.06 Tallangatta Monthly 12 0 <0.01 0.10 Tangambalanga Monthly 12 0 0.01 0.03 Tawonga/Tawonga South Twice Monthly 24 0 <0.01 0.06 Tungamah Monthly 12 0 0.01 0.02 Wahgunyah Monthly 12 0 <0.01 <0.01 Walwa Monthly 12 0 <0.01 0.23 Wandiligong Monthly 12 0 <0.01 0.04 Wangaratta Monthly 12 0 0.01 0.03 Whitfield Monthly 12 0 <0.01 0.03 Wodonga/Baranduda HL Monthly 12 0 <0.01 0.03 Wodonga HL Monthly 12 0 <0.01 <0.01 Wodonga Logic Monthly 12 0 <0.01 0.01 Wodonga LL Monthly 12 0 <0.01 0.24 Yackandandah Monthly 12 0 <0.01 0.02 Yarrawonga Twice Monthly 24 0 <0.01 0.18

North East Water Page 43 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

3.6.3 Hardness The ADWG (2011) aesthetic standard requires hardness < 200 mg/L.

Table 3-28 Hardness Results 2016-17 Water Sampling Locality Sampling No. of No. Non- Min. Result Max. Result Frequency Samples complying (mg/L) (mg/L) Results Barnawartha Biannually 2 0 19 19 Beechworth HL Biannually 2 0 7 7 Beechworth LL Biannually 2 0 7 9 Bellbridge Biannually 2 0 13 16 Benalla Biannually 2 0 11 16 Bright Biannually 2 0 10 11 Bundalong Biannually 2 0 16 19 Chiltern Biannually 2 0 20 24 Corryong HL Biannually 2 0 15 16 Corryong LL Biannually 2 0 16 17 Cudgewa Biannually 2 0 27 29 Dartmouth Biannually 2 0 18 22 Devenish Biannually 2 0 13 19 Ebden/Baranduda LL Biannually 2 0 17 21 Eskdale Biannually 2 0 11 16 Glenrowan Biannually 2 0 16 19 Goorambat Biannually 2 0 96 100 Harrietville Biannually 2 0 10 12 Kiewa Biannually 2 0 14 16 Moyhu Biannually 2 0 12 14 Mt Beauty Biannually 2 0 9 13 Myrtleford Biannually 2 0 33 35 Oxley Biannually 2 0 9 13 Porepunkah Biannually 2 0 11 12 Rutherglen Biannually 2 0 18 18 Springhurst Biannually 2 0 21 24 St James Biannually 2 0 15 16 Tallangatta Biannually 2 0 15 18 Tangambalanga Biannually 2 0 17 20 Tawonga/Tawonga South Biannually 2 0 13 17 Tungamah Biannually 2 0 11 15 Wahgunyah Biannually 2 0 15 16 Walwa Biannually 2 0 15 17 Wandiligong Biannually 2 0 11 12 Wangaratta Biannually 2 0 17 17 Whitfield Biannually 2 0 22 32 Wodonga/Baranduda HL Biannually 2 0 17 17 Wodonga HL Biannually 2 0 16 17 Wodonga Logic Biannually 2 0 16 17 Wodonga LL Biannually 2 0 15 15 Yackandandah Biannually 2 0 6 11 Yarrawonga Quarterly 4 0 14 22

North East Water Page 44 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

3.6.4 Colour The ADWG (2011) aesthetic standard requires colour < 15 HU.

Table 3-29 Colour Results 2016-17 Water Sampling Locality Sampling No. of No. Non- Min. Result Max. Result Frequency Samples complying (HU) (HU) Results Barnawartha Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Beechworth HL Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Beechworth LL Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Bellbridge Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Benalla Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Bright Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Bundalong Monthly 12 0 <2 2 Chiltern Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Corryong HL Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Corryong LL Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Cudgewa Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Dartmouth Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Devenish Monthly 12 0 <2 2 Ebden/Baranduda LL Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Eskdale Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Glenrowan Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Goorambat Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Harrietville Monthly 12 0 <2 2 Kiewa Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Moyhu Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Mt Beauty Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Myrtleford Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Oxley Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Porepunkah Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Rutherglen Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Springhurst Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 St James Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Tallangatta Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Tangambalanga Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Tawonga/Tawonga South Twice Monthly 24 0 <2 <2 Tungamah Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Wahgunyah Monthly 12 0 <2 2 Walwa Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Wandiligong Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Wangaratta Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Whitfield Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Wodonga/Baranduda HL Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Wodonga HL Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Wodonga Logic Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Wodonga LL Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Yackandandah Monthly 12 0 <2 <2 Yarrawonga Twice Monthly 24 0 <2 2

North East Water Page 45 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

3.6.5 Actions in Relation to Aesthetics pH pH drift in North East Water’s supply systems is an ongoing challenge due to the inherently soft (low alkalinity) water. This often manifests as elevated pH within reticulations systems, particularly where concrete lined water mains and/or concrete storages are present. In 2016-17 ten localities failed to meet the ADWG upper aesthetic guideline value for pH (Table 3-26). All localities met the ADWG (2011) lower aesthetic guideline value for pH. A research project that commenced in October 2015 to stabilise pH in the Cudgewa sampling locality has resulted in a significant reduction in pH in that system. This was due to the installation of carbon dioxide dosing and monitoring equipment. In 2015-16 77% of pH results in Cudgewa were greater than the aesthetic guideline value for pH. In 2016-17 this dropped to 12% of pH results being greater than the aesthetic guideline value. This project is now being assessed to determine the practicality of maintaining carbon dioxide dosing into the future.

Clarity All water sampling localities met the ADWG (2011) aesthetic guideline value for colour.

Taste and Odour Taste and odour are actively managed across all of our water supply localities. Source waters can contain taste and odour compounds due to the presence of algae or organic matter. Testing for taste and odour causing compounds is generally event-based. Powdered activated carbon is dosed where available in response to the presence of taste and odour compounds (see Section 3.5.6). Furthermore, the addition of chlorine to water can also cause taste and odour issues for some customers. Section 5 details taste and odour complaints received from customers in 2016-17. Iron

North East Water Page 46 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

3.7 ANALYSIS OF RESULTS Figure 3-2 shows the percentage of water sampling localities that were compliant with the Regulations Schedule 2 and ADWG water quality health standards in comparison to the previous two reporting periods.

95% of localities were compliant for E. coli in 2016-17 compared to 100% in 2015-16 and 2014-15. 100% of localities were compliant for trihalomethanes in 2016-17 and for the previous two reporting periods. 98% of localities were compliant with the turbidity standard in 2016-17. This compares to 100% in 2015-16 and 2014-15.

In Figure 3-2 you can see that chloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid and trichloroacetic acid were not tested for in 2016-17 as their presence at elevated levels was considered unlikely from historical data. Bromate and formaldehyde were also not tested for in 2016-17 as their presence was considered unlikely as there is no ozone treatment in any of the Corporation’s localities. All other health based parameters sampled and analysed met the requirements.

There has been no change to the number of water sampling localities during the period shown (42).

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10%

0% Water Sampling Localities Compliant (%)

2016-17 2015-16 2014-15

Figure 3-2 Percentage of Water Sampling Localities Compliant with the Regulations Schedule 2 in 2016- 17 and in comparison to the previous two reporting periods

Figure 3-3 below shows the percentage of water sampling localities that were compliant with the ADWG (2011) aesthetic water quality standards in comparison to the previous two reporting periods. Note that results for 2016-17 are based on data sampled at reticulation sites, entry points and clear water storages whereas for the other two reporting periods results are based on data from reticulation sample sites only.

81% of localities were compliant with the aluminium aesthetic standard. This compares to 90% and 98% in 2015-16 and 2014-15 respectively. 93% of localities were compliant with the aesthetic manganese standard in 2016-17. This compares to 100% in 2015-16 and 2014-15. 83% of localities were compliant with the aesthetic guideline for Iron in 2016-17. This compares to 93% and 98% in 2015-16 and 2014-15 respectively. 100% of localities were compliant with the hardness and true colour standard in 2016-17 and in the previous two reporting periods. 79% of localities were compliant with the pH standard in 2016-17. This compares with 69% and 71% of localities in 2015-16 and 2014-15 respectively. See Section 3.6.5 for details on actions relating to pH. All other aesthetic based parameters sampled and analysed were 100% compliant.

North East Water Page 47 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

Water Sampling Localities Compliant (%) Compliant Localities Sampling Water 10%

0% Aluminium Manganese Iron Hardness True Colour pH

2016-17 2015-16 2014-15

Figure 3-3 Percentage of Water Sampling Localities Compliant with the ADWG (2011) aesthetic water quality standards in 2016-17 and in comparison to the previous two reporting periods

Figure 3-4 below shows the percentage of customers supplied with water compliant with the Regulations schedule 2 and the ADWG (2011) water quality standards. 99% of customers were supplied with water compliant with the E. coli standard in 2016-17. This compares with 100% of customers in the previous two years. 100% of customers were supplied with water compliant with the turbidity standard in 2016-17 and the previous two years. 92% of customers were supplied with water compliant with the aesthetic aluminium standard in 2016-17. This compares with 95% in both 2015-16 and 2014-15. 99% of customers were supplied with water compliant with the aesthetic iron standard in 2016-17. This compares with 48% and 100% in 2015-16 and 2014-15 respectively. 81% of customers were supplied with water compliant with the manganese aesthetic standard in 2016-17. This compares with 100% compliance in the previous two years. 92% of customers were supplied with water compliant with the aesthetic pH standard in 2016-17. This compares with 60% and 59% compliance in 2015-16 and 2014-15 respectively.

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40% Standard (%) Standard 30%

20%

10% Customers Supplied with Water that met the the metthat Waterwith Supplied Customers 0% E. coli Turbidity Aluminium Iron Manganese pH Regulations Schedule 2/ADWG Parameters

2016-17 2015-16 2014-15

North East Water Page 48 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

Figure 3-4 Analysis of 2016-17 Compliance Results with Previous Years (% Customers Supplied with Compliant Water) The Corporation’s ongoing water quality compliance record can be attributed to a number of areas of improvement, including:  Continual improvement of the Drinking Water Quality Management System  Significant investment in multiple barrier water treatment plants to provide safe drinking water  Continual process improvements and system upgrades  Stringent water quality operating limits with online monitoring, alarming and plant shutdown  Adoption of a strong drinking water quality culture within the Corporation

North East Water Page 49 Water Quality Annual Report 2013-14

4. EMERGENCY AND INCIDENT MANAGEMENT A number of water quality events occurred during 2016-17. Those that were reported to DHHS under Section 22 and Section 18 of the Act are detailed in this section. 4.1 INCIDENT SUMMARY Table 4-1 Water Quality Incidents Reported to DHHS under Section 22 of the Act in 2016-17 Date and Duration Supply Systems Nature of Actions Taken and Communication of Event and Sampling Incident (result) Localities Affected (or Potentially Affected) 24 November 2016 Devenish E. coli detection E. coli were detected in the Devenish clear water storage (tank) as part of routine monitoring on 24 November 2016. At the time of (19 orgs/100 mL) the detection there was a free chlorine residual of < 0.05 mg/L and a turbidity of 0.3 NTU. Booster chlorine dosing only occurs at this site when water is being pumped from the tank to the tower and therefore depending on water age, the chlorine residual in the tank can decay. On the same day as detection, a sample was collected from the tower (post chlorine dosing) which had a chlorine residual of 1.1 mg/L, turbidity of 0.2 NTU, pH = 7.8 and no E. coli or coliforms present. Water gravitates from the tower to the Devenish reticulation. A sample taken on the same day from the reticulation had a chlorine residual of 0.73 mg/L, turbidity of 0.1 NTU, pH = 7.8 and no E. coli or coliforms present. An Operator investigated on the day of notification and conducted a tank inspection and confirmed chlorine residual in the tank (0.15 mg/L) and the tower (1.2 mg/L). The tank was batch dosed to increase the residual. The next day resampling was conducted by the external laboratory at the tank, tower and in the reticulation. All results were within specification except the tank with a chlorine residual of 0.1 mg/L. There were no issues at the responsible WTP (Yarrawonga) or in the reticulation systems upstream that could have contributed to contamination of the tank. The incident was reported to DHHS and an investigation report was submitted within 10 days as per requirements of schedule 2 of the Regulations. DHHS concluded that the initial sample was a false positive sample in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2015. 14 December 2016 Chiltern E. coli detection E. coli were detected at the Chiltern clear water storage (tank) as part of routine monitoring on 14 December 2016 and North East (< 24 hours) 460 orgs/100 mL) Water was notified on 15 December 2017. At the time of detection there was a free chlorine residual of 0.80 mg/L and a coliforms concentration of 460 orgs/100mL. Another sample in the Chiltern reticulation taken on the same day as the detection had a free chlorine residual of 0.51 mg/L, pH = 7.6, turbidity < 0.1 NTU and a plate count concentration of 2 orgs/mL.A North East Water Operator attended on the day of notification and conducted a tank inspection with no signs of contamination or ingress. At this time, a chlorine residual of 0.85 mg/L was recorded at the Chiltern tank. The external laboratory resampled on 15 December 2016 at the tank and in the reticulation with a result of 0 coliforms and E. coli and a turbidity < 0.1 at all sites sampled. A Section 22 report was submitted to the DHHS on 16 December 2016 and an investigation report was submitted to DHHS within 10 days as per the requirements of schedule 2 of the Regulations. DHHS concluded that the initial sample was a false positive sample in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2015. 27 February 2017 Beechworth LL Non-disinfected A trunk main break occurred at the Beechworth Low Level locality. This lead to the drainage of one of two clear water storages (1 hour) water entered the (CWS 1) that feeds that locality. The water level in the other tank (CWS 2) dropped to a level where process water was no longer LL reticulation able to be supplied to the WTP preventing the chlorine system from operating. The WTP ran for approximately 1 hour without disinfection in order to increase the volume of water in the CWS 2 shandying with the remaining chlorinated water in CWS 1 first. At this stage chlorine residual leaving the plant was 0.2 mg/L. Sodium hypochlorite was then added to CWS 2 to increase the chlorine residual and a fire fighting pump was set up as a temporary service water supply so that chlorine dosing could resume. Within 15 minutes the chlorine residual leaving the CWS increased to 0.5 mg/L. At all times, filtration was operating adequately. The reticulation mains were then monitored and scoured from hydrants to remove non-spec water and to ensure adequate chlorine residuals were present. Sampling from the same day showed no E. coli present and minimum chlorine of 0.17 mg/L.

North East Water Page 50 Water Quality Annual Report 2013-14

Table 4-2 Water Quality Incidents Reported to DHHS under Section 18 of the Act in 2016-17 Date and Duration Supply Systems and Nature of Incident Actions Taken and Communication of Event Sampling Localities (result) Affected (or Potentially Affected) 13 April 2017 Springhurst Turbidity A Section 18 report was submitted to DHHS for an elevated turbidity result = 5.8 NTU (a rolling 12 month statistic) at a exceedance Springhurst reticulation sample site for the period 1 April 2016 – 31 March 2017. Operators attended, checked the (a rolling 12 month site and flushed. The initial inspection of the sample site showed it to be in good condition and a test for turbidity was statistic = 5.8 NTU) good. On 20 April 2017 this site also had an iron result of 0.36 mg/L. Springhurst is supplied from the Wodonga WTP and the exceedance was not a result of a treatment failure. On 4 May the Springhurst reticulation was flushed (flows > 1.5 m/s) but no visible sediment or discoloured water was present after the initial flush from the hydrants which only lasted a few seconds. In response to this event a proactive flushing plan has been implemented to improve reticulation water quality.

North East Water Page 51 Water Quality Annual Report 2016-17

5. COMPLAINTS RELATING TO WATER QUALITY

5.1 WATER QUALITY COMPLAINTS 2016-17 A new system for recording customer complaints commenced on 3 April 2017. This new system caused a significant change in the way North East Water classifies customer contact and has increased the number of complaints recorded in our system. Each customer contact can now only be classified as a complaint or service request.

Customer contact is considered a complaint when a customer’s water quality has been impacted due to a failure in the delivery of aesthetically good water quality, including a failure by North East Water to observe its published policies, practices or procedures. In the case of complaints, corrective actions are required to restore service. In these cases when the Operator attends there is evidence the problem is located in the Corporation’s distribution system. Some examples include the presence of geosmin or MIB, discoloured or dirty water or poor tasting water in the reticulation system.

Customer contact is considered a service request when an on-site investigation by an Operator shows the problem is not the result of North East Water’s service delivery or activities. In this case, there are no corrective actions required by the Corporation. These situations include cases where there is evidence that dirty water or taste issues are not in the distribution system but are isolated to the customer’s property. In these cases the customer is informed the problem is on their side of the meter. In addition to this, customer contact where information on water quality is requested or advice is asked, these are also considered service requests.

Table 5-1 sets out water quality complaints received by North East Water in 2016-17 in comparison to the previous two reporting periods. A total of forty-four water quality complaints were received in 2016-17, which is twenty-five more than the previous reporting period.

Complaints related to dirty water (52%) and taste and odour (27%) were the most frequent complaint types received. Complaints were generally isolated and unrelated, with no time or spatial trends identified. One exception however was at Tallangatta were there were a number of dirty water complaints after a mains break in December 2016. Also, the Corporation issued a Facebook and media release for geosmin at Tallangatta on 23 December 2016. All complaints were addressed in accordance with North East Water’s complaint response process (Section 5.2).

Table 5-1 Water Quality Complaints 2016-17 and in Comparison to Previous Reporting Periods No. of Complaints Comparison with previous Type of Complaints Comments 2016-17 2015-16 2014-15 reporting periods Alleged illness 3 0 2 Increase of 3 from 2015-16, Possible skin sensitivity of similar to 2014-15 period some customers to chlorine in water Dirty water 23 12 5 Increase of 11 from 2015-16 Increase due to new system for and 18 from 2014-15 recording customer contact Taste or Odour 12 2 2 Increase of 8 from previous Increase due to new system for two reporting periods recording customer contact White water 6 0 1 Increase of 6 from 2015-16 Result of emergency main and 5 from 2014-15 repair Other 0 5 3 Decrease of 5 from 2015-16 and 3 from 2014-15

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Table 5-2 lists water quality complaints for 2016-17. Note that towns with multiple localities customer complaints are combined into one grouping.

Table 5-2 Water Quality Complaints 2016-17 by Sampling Locality Type of Complaint Water Sampling Total Alleged Dirty Taste or White Localities Other Complaints Illness Water Odour Water Barnawartha 0 0 0 0 0 0 Beechworth HL and LL 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bellbridge 0 0 0 0 0 0 Benalla 1 1 1 0 0 3 Bright 2 0 0 0 0 2 Bundalong 0 0 1 0 0 1 Chiltern 0 0 0 0 0 0 Corryong HL and LL 0 0 0 1 0 1 Cudgewa 0 0 0 0 0 0 Dartmouth 0 0 0 0 0 0 Devenish 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ebden/Baranduda LL 0 0 1 0 0 1 Eskdale 0 0 0 0 0 0 Glenrowan 0 0 0 0 0 0 Goorambat 0 0 0 0 0 0 Harrietville 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kiewa 0 0 0 0 0 0 Moyhu 0 0 0 1 0 1 Mt Beauty 0 0 2 0 0 2 Myrtleford 0 0 0 0 0 0 Oxley 0 0 0 0 0 0 Porepunkah 0 0 0 0 0 0 Rutherglen 0 0 0 0 0 0 Springhurst 0 0 0 0 0 0 St James 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tallangatta 0 7 1 0 0 8 Tangambalanga 0 0 0 1 0 1 Tawonga/Tawonga South 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tungamah 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wahgunyah 0 0 0 0 0 0 Walwa 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wandiligong 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wangaratta 0 7 1 0 0 8 Whitfield 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wodonga 0 8 4 3 0 15 Yackandandah 0 0 0 0 0 0 Yarrawonga 0 0 1 0 0 1

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5.2 COMPLAINT RESPONSE PROCESS All complaints regarding water quality are recorded and investigated according to the Corporation’s water quality complaint response process shown in Figure 5-1 below.

Customer complaint received via phone/internet/in person and forwarded to Water Quality Team

Water Quality Team creates works order in AMIS

Is physical Yes Water Quality Team passes details on to investigation relevant Operations Team for investigation required?

Field investigation of complaint

Findings of investigation forwarded to Water Quality Team contact customer Water Quality Team for referral back to customer

Yes Complaint Entry of complaint details into AMIS resolved? (event completed)

Complaint process complete

No

Figure 5-1 North East Water’s Water Quality Complaint Response Process

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6. FINDINGS OF THE MOST RECENT RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN AUDIT No risk management plan audit was conducted in 2016-17.

7. UNDERTAKINGS No undertakings or exemptions were in place in 2016-17.

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8. GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND FURTHER INFORMATION

8.1 GLOSSARY OF TERMS, ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

Table 8-1 Glossary of Terms, Abbreviations and Acronyms Term/Abbreviation/Acronym Description Act Safe Drinking Water Act 2003. ADWG 2011 Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2011. Aluminium chlorohydrate Aluminium-based salts added to water as a coagulant. Aluminium sulphate Aluminium-based salts added to water as a coagulant. Calcium hydroxide Lime. Used for pH correction of water. Carbon dioxide A chemical compound added to water as a stabiliser. Caustic soda General term given to sodium hydroxide. Used for pH correction of water. Chlorination The process of adding chlorine to water for disinfection purposes. Chlorine gas A chemical added to water as a disinfectant. Clarification The process of removing colloids from water. Coagulation The process wherein colloids come out of suspension in the form of floc. Colour Colour refers to the clarity of water which can be discoloured by dissolved and particulate material. Dissolved air flotation Dissolved air flotation and filtration. Treatment technique whereby air is bubbled through flocculated water to collect and concentrate colloids on the surface for disposal prior to filtration. DHHS Department of Health and Human Services Disinfection The removal, deactivation or killing of pathogenic microorganisms. E. coli Escherichia coli. Bacterium found in the gut, used as an indicator of faecal contamination of water. Filtration The separation of suspended material from water through a porous substance, such as a filter. Flocculation The process of aggregation of colloids or insoluble material (floccules). Flotation The treatment process of collecting colloids on the surface of water. Fluoridation The process of adding fluoride to water for dental health purposes. Fluoride General term for fluorosilicic acid. Fluorosilicic acid Inorganic compound used for water fluoridation. Granular media filter Removal of suspended solids by passage of water through a porous medium. HBT Health Based Target HL High level reticulation. HU Hazen unit. A measurement of the colour of water. kL Kilolitre (1,000 litres). L Litre (1,000 millilitres). LL Low level reticulation. Lime Calcium hydroxide. Used for pH correction of water. Mg Milligram (a thousandth of a gram). mL Millilitre (a thousandth of a litre). NEW North East Water. NTU Nephelometric turbidity units. Ozone A gas used in the disinfection of drinking water. PAC Powdered activated carbon. pH An expression of the intensity of the basic or acid condition of a liquid. pH correction The process of adding lime, soda ash or caustic soda to adjust the pH level of water. Polyacrylamide A type of polyelectrolyte. Polyelectrolyte (polymer) Polyelectrolytes are added to water as a coagulant aid prior to treatment. Powdered activated carbon Added to water for removal of taste and odour compounds and toxins prior to filtration. Pre-oxidation A chemical reaction that removes minerals from solution and allows for their removal via filtration. Regulations Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2015. Reticulation A pipe network used to deliver potable water from WTPs to customers. SCADA Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Sedimentation Process whereby suspended solids are removed from water under the influence of gravity. Sludge Process used to increase the solids content of sludge by separating and removing of a portion of Thickening/Dewatering the liquid. Soda ash General name for sodium carbonate. Used for pH correction of water. Sodium carbonate Soda ash. Used for pH correction of water. Sodium hydroxide Caustic soda. Used for pH correction of water. Sodium hypochlorite A chemical compound used as a disinfectant. Source water Water in its natural state, before any treatment to make it suitable for drinking. Stability Stability refers to the corrosiveness of water which can be affected by alkalinity, pH and calcium. Turbidity The measurement of the light scattering property of water. Influenced by the presence of fine suspended matter such as clay and silt. Measured in NTU (nephelometric turbidity units). µS/cm Micro Siemen per centimetre. A measure of the ability of water to conduct an electric current. Often used as an indicator of salt content. UV Ultraviolet. Ultraviolet irradiation The use of ultraviolet (UV) light to irradiate drinking water in order to kill pathogens such as bacteria and viruses as well as inactivate harmful protozoa. WTP Water Treatment Plant.

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8.2 FURTHER INFORMATION Section 23 of the Act requires that North East Water make available for inspection by the public the results of any water quality monitoring program that is conducted on any drinking water supplied by us. Customers and members of the public may access drinking water quality data by contacting North East Water on 1300 361 622 during business hours or via our website newater.com.au

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APPENDIX 1: PESTICIDE AND HERBICIDE GROUPINGS

Group Pesticide/Herbicide Group Pesticide/Herbicide Amitrole Amitrole Organophosphate Pesticides Ethion Carbamates 3-Hydroxy Carbofuran (continued) Ethoprophos Aldicarb Fenamiphos Bendiocarb Fenchlorphos Benomyl Fenitrothion Carbaryl Fensulfothion Carbofuran Fenthion Methiocarb Malathion Methomyl Mevinphos Molinate Monocrotophos Oxamyl Omethoate Thiobencarb Parathion Thiodicarb Parathion-Methyl Dinitroanilines Pendimethalin Phorate Trifluralin Pirimiphos-Ethyl Fungicides Cyproconazole Pirimiphos-Methyl Cyprodinil Profenofos Difenoconazole Prothiofos Flusilazole Sulfotep Hexaconazole Sulprofos Paclobutrazole Temephos Penconazole Terbufos Propiconazole Tetrachlorvinphos Pyrimethanil Triazophos Tebuconazole Trichlorfon Glyphosate Glyphosate Trichloronate Organochlorine Pesticides 4,4-DDD Phenolic Compounds 2-Chlorophenol 4,4-DDE Pentachlorophenol 4,4-DDT 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol Aldrin 2,4-Dichlorophenol Chlordane Phenoxy Herbicides 2,4,5-T Dieldrin 2,4-D Endosulphan 2,4-DB Endosulphan I 2,6-D Endosulphan II 4-CPA Endosulphan Sulphate Bentazon Endrin Bromoxynil Endrin Aldehyde Clopyralid Endrin Ketone Dicamba Heptachlor Dichlorprop Heptachlor Epoxide Dinoseb Hexachlorobenzene Fluroxypyr Hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha) MCPA Hexachlorocyclohexane (beta) MCPB Hexachlorocyclohexane (delta) Mecoprop Lindane Picloram Methidathion Silvex Methoxychlor Triclopyr Oxychlordane Sulfonylurea Herbicides Bromacil Organophosphate Trans Chlordane Chlorsulfuron Pesticides Azinphos-Ethyl Diuron Azinphos-Methyl Fluometuron Bromophos-Ethyl Tebuthiuron Carbofenothion Triazine & Triazineone Ametryn Chlorfenvinphos Herbicides Atrazine Chlorpyrifos Cyanazine Chlorpyrifos-Methyl Cyromazine Coumaphos Hexazinone Demeton-O & Demeton-S Irgarol Demeton-S-Methyl Metribuzin Diazinon Prometryn Dichlorvos Propazine Dimethoate Simazine Disulfoton Terbuthylazine EPN Terbutryn

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APPENDIX 2: ORGANIC CHEMICAL GROUPINGS

Group Organic Chemical Volatile Organic Compounds 1,1-Dichloroethane 1,1-Dichloroethene 1,2-Dichloroethene 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene 1,2-Dichlorobenzene 1,2-Dichloroethane 1,3-Butadiene

1,3-Dichlorobenzene

1,4-Dichlorobenzene

Dichloromethane

Carbon tetrachloride Styrene Tetrachloroethene Trichloroethene Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Benzo(a)Pyrene BTEX Benzene Ethylbenzene Toluene Total Xylenes

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