Water Quality

Aqwest is committed to providing sustainable, high-quality drinking water that consistently meets or exceeds customers’ expectations. Water quality is regularly monitored to ensure it continues to meet high standards and is in accordance with Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and relevant regulatory requirements.

Drinking water standards within Western Australia are regulated by the Department of Health. Please visit the Department of Health website for further information.

Please check the outages and faults page to see if there is work in your area that could be affecting your water quality. If you wish to report a water quality issue, please contact us.

A copy of Aqwest’s Water Quality Reports can be found on our documents search page.

Chlorine

Mild chlorination is an essential part of the process of producing safe drinking water. Chlorine is used as a disinfection to provide lasting, effective protection from our water treatment plants to your tap.

Fluoride

Fluoride is added to Aqwest’s water supply, as directed by the Minister for Health. The use of fluoride is regulated by the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act 1966, and the dose rate is set by a steering committee which reports to the Minister for Health.

For more information about fluoridation, visit the Department of Health’s website or call 08 9222 2000.

Water Quality Issues

While Aqwest takes great care in providing quality water to customers, properties may occasionally be affected by works in the area and/or seasonal changes.

Please check the outages and faults page to see if there is work in your area that could be affecting your water quality. If you wish to report a water quality issue, please contact us.

Discoloured water

Discoloured water can occur at any time when there is a sudden increase or change in direction of flow in pipes, but is most common in early spring and summer, when there is an increase in water use and water flow through pipes. When water use drops in winter, sediment settles in the bottom of the pipe.

The sediment can make the water look discoloured, but it is harmless and the water is safe to use.

If you are experiencing discoloured water, please carry out a simple flush self-test. To do this, run the garden tap closest to your water meter for two minutes and see if this clears the discolouration. Remember to catch this water and re-use on your garden or pot plants.

If the discolouration does not clear, please contact us.

Please read Aqwest’s Discoloured Water Brochure for more information on what to do if you are experiencing discoloured water.

White water

Water with air in it has a cloudy or milky white appearance, caused by the concentration of thousands of tiny air bubbles. This cannot do you any harm.

Water can become aerated due to:

• your home's hot water system; or

• when a pocket of air becomes trapped in the pipework inside your home; or

• air can enter the water supply during repairs to our pipe network; for example, after we have carried out maintenance work or fixed a leak.

To determine if there is air in the water, hold a glass of cold water to the light and you will see tiny bubbles start to clear from the bottom. If tiny air bubbles don't form, the cloudy appearance could have been caused by works carried out in the area.

Please check the outages and faults page to see if there is work in your area that could be affecting your water quality. If you wish to report a water quality issue, please contact us.

Black specks in the water

If you are experiencing black specks in your water, please call Aqwest on 9780 9500.

Water pressure

Aqwest is committed to providing water pressure to customers’ homes at a minimum flow rate of 20 litres per minute with a minimum of 15 to a maximum of 100 metres static pressure at your water meter.

If you have experienced a noticeable drop in pressure , or your pressure is generally low, then there are some steps you can take:

• Make sure the stop tap is completely open on your water meter. The water meter is usually located within half a metre of your property boundary. To open it, turn it all the way anti-clockwise.

• Ensure all water-using appliances and taps on your household network are turned off (including evaporative air conditioners).

• Perform a bucket test. To do this, get a 10 litre bucket, and using the tap closest to your meter, time how long it takes to fill the bucket. If it fills in 30 seconds or less, this indicates that water is coming onto your property at the required pressure, and that poor pressure in your household taps may be a result of your internal plumbing or appliances. To investigate your household plumbing you will need to engage a plumber to look further into what is causing the problem.

If it does not fill in 30 seconds, this could indicate an issue with the pressure of the water supply coming into your property. Please contact us.

Water pressure and flow is measured at the point of delivery to your property (the outlet of your meter). Your garden reticulation system must be designed to suit Aqwest’s minimum pressure and flow rates.

Smell and Taste

Mild chlorination is an essential part of the process of producing safe drinking water and occasionally the chlorine taste is noticeable. The chlorine taste and odour is most noticeable in water that has been sitting in internal pipework for an extended period of time. Try flushing the tap used for drinking to see if the taste and odour decreases.

Other ways you can reduce or remove the taste are:

• add lemon to the water;

• allow the water to stand in the sunlight in a covered container for 2 hours;

• chill the water.

If you experience ongoing issues please contact us.

Water hardness

Water hardness refers to the amount of Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) in our water. The amount of CaCO3 in our water affects:

• how effective soaps and washing powders are to laundry, dishes etc.;

• the life of hot water systems;

• taste; 

• warranty on certain manufacturers of dishwashers.

Calcium Carbonate levels are measured in:

• milligrams per litre (mg/l); or

• parts per million (ppm); or

• degrees hardness (dh).

Aqwest produces water around 100 mg/l of CaCO3 which makes it around the moderately soft to slightly hard range. Please see the table below.

This table shows the water hardness rating (soft to very hard) and the corresponding Calcium Carbonate levels measured in milligrams per litre and degrees hardness.