Drinking water quality

Every drop of water that comes out of your tap has been treated at one of our 3 water treatment plants, ensuring the tap water you drink, cook with and bathe in every day is safe.

Compared to the leading bottled water brands in Australia, your tap water boasts lower Sodium content and a high level of minerals important to our health, such as Calcium and Magnesium.

Your tap water also has about half the Chloride of 3 of the major bottled water brands tested.

Here is a summary of Tweed Laboratory Centre test results.

If you are after filtered water, know that you’re already showering in it!

At our water treatment plants, your tap water undergoes a rigorous treatment process that includes advanced ultra filtratration. There, water is forced through a semi-permeable membrane with tiny holes 2,500 times smaller than a human hair. Most holes in home-based water filtration systems are at least twice as big.

This cutting-edge filtratration process removes 99.99 percent of suspended solids, bacteria, parasites such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia, as well as particle-bonded viruses.

You can trust the tap water you use every day. There is generally no need to filter it.

If you do use filters at home, make sure you maintain and replace them regularly otherwise they will become ineffective. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

There is a major price difference between bottled water and your tap water.

A modest 600 mL (0.6 litre) bottle of water on the store shelf has an average price tag of about $3.25.

A massive 1000 litres of tap water costs less in the Tweed - about $3.30.

This means you could fill a 600 mL bottle with Tweed tap water 1667 times for the cost of 600 mL of bottled water.

Even if you buy bottled water in bulk and manage to drive the cost down to $1.50 a litre, you'd still be paying 454 times more than your tap water.

According to Clean Up Australia, it takes 3 litres of water and 250 mL of oil to produce one litre of bottled water. Water, energy and other precious resources are sacrificed to produce a fraction of its volume.

Council believes in affordability. We charge a cost-recovery price for tap water, ensuring you can enjoy the refreshment of water without draining your wallet.

When it comes to quenching your thirst, opt for sensibility. Choose Tweed tap water - it's where quality and affordability unite.

Potential causes

• Chlorine is common in most treated water supplies and is used to ensure drinking water does not cause health problems
• Chlorinated water may also contain disinfection by-products, which are formed when chlorine reacts with compounds already in the water. Disinfection by-products have a distinctive odour. The interaction of chlorine and materials such as plastic electric kettles can also cause odours in water

Corrective measures

• Chlorine levels in the Tweed are generally less than 0.6 mg/ L, well below the NHMRC limit of 5mg/L. The concentration of disinfection by products is also monitored to ensure levels meet health guidelines.
• If you are experiencing unusually high levels of chlorine types odours you can contact us for more information.

Potential causes

• Over time, organic matter (such as hair, soap, and food waste) can accumulate on the walls of the drain and bacteria can grow on these organic deposits. The bacteria can produce a gas which is disturbed when water is used.
• Sulphur compounds in the water supply.

Corrective measures

• Clean and/or flush the drain.

Potential causes

• Certain types of algae, fungi, and bacteria growing in the water supply, especially during warm weather.
• Algae can come from the raw water supply or grow within the reticulation network.

Corrective measures

• Council monitors algae levels during the water treatment process and has facilities to remove these substances when required.
• If you wish to remove this type of smell from your water then you can fit a carbon treatment device to your tap.

Potential causes

• Although this problem is rare, it is potentially serious.
• New plastic pipes and plumbing may give a slight taste and odour to water but this should be temporary.
• If polyethylene pipes are used outside there is potential for absorbing hydrocarbons if they come in contact with one another.

Corrective measures

• Do not use the water if you experience any petrol or fuel-like smell in your water.
• Contact Council immediately

Potential causes

• Corrosion of iron or copper pipes on your property. High levels of copper can cause short-term health problems like diarrhoea and cramping. Iron has no effect on health.
• Zinc and manganese are less common causes of a metallic taste.

Corrective measures

• The presence of these metals can be confirmed by having the water tested. See Tweed Laboratory Centre for more information.

Potential causes

• Old galvanised pipes inside the customer’s property iron pipes can discolour the water and give it an unpleasant taste.
• Stagnant water laying in pipes for extended periods (for example over a weekend) may be discoloured or have a poor taste at your tap.

Corrective measures

• Normally running the tap for a few minutes will flush this water.
• If the problem persists, contact Council.

Potential causes

• Air bubbles in water caused by a sudden change in water flow or direction in the pipes.
• Not harmful to health.

Corrective measures

• Leave to sit for 2-3 minutes and they should disappear.

Potential causes

• Sediment (iron, manganese) in the pipe or water main which can be stirred when there is a sudden increase or change in direction of water in the pipes.
• Not harmful to health.

Corrective measures

• Council will flush a main after a repair. However, dirty water may still be present in some instances.
• Residents should flush taps until water runs clear and avoid doing laundry as the water may stain clothes. See Discoloured Water - How to Clean Stained Clothes(PDF, 229KB)
• If the problem persists, contact us. 

Potential causes

• Usually copper corrosion from plumbing.
• May be harmful to health.

Corrective measures

• Contact Council to arrange testing.

Potential causes

• Calcium and magnesium carbonates which build up internally in hot water pipes and kettles.
• Not harmful to health.