Drinking water quality
Ensuring water quality Changes in water quality Boil-water alerts Uki and Tyalgum water quality Flouride PFAS testing
As your local water utility, we help safeguard the health of the Tweed community by providing safe drinking water that equals the best quality bottled water. This makes it easy for everyone in the Tweed to Choose Tap.
To uphold safety, we conduct weekly tests for an extensive range of chemical and microbiological particles. Our safety systems including regular monitoring means Tweed tap water consistently meets the highest standards, giving you peace of mind whenever you take a sip.
Our testing is conducted by the NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities) accredited Tweed Laboratory Centre.
Check out our latest Water Quality Analysis(PDF, 572KB) (PDF, 115KB). Also, read our Drinking Water Quality Policy(PDF, 137KB) (PDF, 137KB).
Tweed tap water is better than bottled water
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.
|
Tweed tap water |
Bottled water brand 1 |
Bottled water brand 2 |
Bottled water brand 3 |
Bottled water brand 4 |
| pH |
7.9 |
6.4 |
7.2 |
6.3 |
6.5 |
| Conductivity |
180 |
217 |
370 |
198 |
85 |
| Conversion to total dissolved solids |
115.2 |
138.88 |
236.8 |
126.72 |
54.4 |
| Calcium |
15.5 |
3.5 |
20 |
8 |
3 |
| Magnesium |
4.08 |
1.6 |
18 |
4 |
3.2 |
| Total calcium & magnesium |
19.58 |
5.1 |
38 |
12 |
6.2 |
| Sodium |
14.4 |
36 |
25 |
23 |
8.7 |
| Fluoride |
0.96 |
0.13 |
0.07 |
0.08 |
0.09 |
| Chloride |
20.33 |
42 |
48 |
36 |
8 |
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.
Ensuring high-quality drinking water
While bottled water falls under the regulation of Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) as a packaged food product, we hold Tweed tap water to even more rigorous standards.
Our tap water meets the strict Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, as mandated by the NSW Public Health Act and regulatory requirements, as well as our customer expectations. To achieve this, we:
- manage water quality throughout the supply chain from the water catchment areas to our customers
- use a risk-based approach where potential threats to water quality are identified and managed
- regularly test and report on the quality of drinking water
- develop appropriate contingency plans and incident response capability to deal with incidents
- regularly review maintenance and asset management programs.
If, at any time, you feel you have become unwell as a result of drinking Tweed water please contact Council immediately. We have a protocol to minimise any health risk from our drinking water supply which includes contacting all relevant authorities, including the Department of Health.
Odour, taste, colour or hardness change?
Changes in water quality can result in a change of odour, taste, colour or hardness. For further details, click on the following water quality symptoms and contact us if you have any concerns.
Chlorine, bleach, chemical or medicinal taste/odour
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.
Sulphurous, decayed, or sewage like taste/odour
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.
Musty, mouldy, earthy, grassy or fishy taste/odour
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.
Petroleum, gasoline, turpentine, fuel-like or solvent-like odour
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
Metallic taste
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.
Other tastes/odours
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.
Milky, white or cloudy water
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.
Brown, red, orange or yellow water colour
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
Green stains or blue water
Potential causes
- Usually copper corrosion from plumbing.
- May be harmful to health.
Corrective measures
White particles
Potential causes
- Calcium and magnesium carbonates which build up internally in hot water pipes and kettles.
- Not harmful to health.
Boil-water alerts
If there is a concern that the water supply has been contaminated, Council in conjunction with the NSW Department of Health, will issue a boil-water alert.
Boiling your water will kill disease-causing organisms.
If a boil-water alert is issued, make sure that drinking water is boiled for at least 3 minutes. Refrigerate the water after boiling.
Uki and Tyalgum water quality
During heavy rain, raw water turbidity creates water treatment inefficiencies, and the Uki Water Treatment Plant is switched off until the raw water quality becomes suitable for treatment again. Similar problems occur at times of high algae counts in the raw water.
When this happens, water from the Bray Park supply is tankered to the reservoirs at Uki and/or Tyalgum. Residents may notice a different taste in the water because of the slight difference in raw water supply quality and the treatment processes.
If we need to tanker in water for a long time, Council may implement water restrictions to reduce consumption. When this happens, water carters are no longer permitted to extract water from the Uki supply.
Fluoride
We add fluoride to the Tweed's main water supply to help prevent tooth decay in the community.
This is consistent with NSW Health policy and supported by scientific research showing that drinking water supply fluoridation is a safe, effective and ethical way to reduce dental issues.
Council has added fluoride to the Tweed's main water supply since 1976. However, Council's two village water supplies at Tyalgum and Uki are not fluoridated due to their small size.
We carefully regulate the amount of fluoride added to the Tweed’s tap water and target one milligram of fluoride per one litre of water. This is equivalent to one part fluoride in one million parts of water. This ensures that fluoride in our tap water remains in the range recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council and within the Australian Drinking Water Guideline limits.
Is fluoridated drinking water safe?
In 2017, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) reviewed all available scientific research on fluoridated drinking water. It found that fluoridated drinking water helps prevent tooth decay and does not cause any health problems.
While some public concern exists—such as claims that fluoridated drinking water is linked to cancer or reduced intelligence in children—these claims are not supported by reliable scientific evidence.
Fluoride in drinking water, within guideline limits, is supported by the:
- Royal College of Physicians (UK)
- World Health Organisation
- NSW Government (NSW Health)
- Australian Dental Association
- Australian Medical Association
- National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia
- American Public Health Association
- National Institute of Dental Research and National Institutes of Health (USA)
- Centres for Disease Control (USA).
The addition of fluoride to Tweed’s water supply is regulated via the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act, regulation and code of practice. These documents and some useful factsheets can be found on the NSW Health website.
Further information about fluoride can be found on the National Health and Medical Research Council website.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and drinking water
We work in step with NSW Health to uphold the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and ensure Tweed tap water remains safe.
As soon as NSW Health recommended NSW water utilities undertake initial screening for PFAS in treated (tap) water, we organised testing at the Tweed’s 3 water supply systems:
- Tweed district, servicing most of the Tweed Shire
- Uki village
- Tyalgum village.
The laboratory testing was conducted by Sydney Water Laboratory Services in October 2024.
The laboratory recorded the PFAS testing results at or below the limits of quantification. See our Water quality analysis for 2023–24(PDF, 572KB) for the results.
The results are in line with our 2024 drinking water supply system risk assessments, which identified the Tweed’s 3 water supply systems were low risk for PFAS exposure.
Our commitment to you
The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines include maximum health-based guidance values for PFOA and PFOS plus PFHxS in drinking water. They are currently under review. We will continue to work with NSW Health to implement any future changes to the guidelines. We will communicate important updates to you as they happen.
Frequently asked questions
What is PFAS?
They are human-made chemicals commonly used to make products that resist heat, stains, grease and water. Find out more on the NSW Health website.
Who sets the standards for safe drinking water?
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) through the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
I heard there is PFAS in Tweed water?
The only known source of PFAS in the Tweed is groundwater at Gold Coast Airport. The Tweed’s drinking (tap) water is not sourced from that catchment.
Find out more about the NSW Government PFAS Investigation Program on the NSW EPA website.
Useful resources
