The last six months of testing by Council and NSW Health on the Yass water supply shows all manganese, mineral causing the discoloured water, readings were within guideline values.
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The council is pleased with the results and Yass Valley Council Director of Engineering Gary Chapman said that it shows the new filtration process is working well.
“Last year we trialed and then implemented a new filtration process that converted the manganese into a solid and then removed it from the water supply at the treatment plant,” Mr Chapman said.
“Before the filtration process was installed, the manganese was actually converting to a solid after it left the water treatment plant causing discoloured water in residents’ homes.
“The manganese level in the Yass water supply is, and always was, safe to drink,” Mr Chapman said.
Whilst the manganese levels are now lower and causing less discolouration, high rainfall or distinct changes in temperatures can cause disruptions in the Yass Dam water supply.
“So far the filtration system is doing its job and it will be tested this summer if we receive a seasonal turnover of the water in the dam which has been the major contributor to high manganese levels in the past,’ Mr Chapman added.
Of 198 NSW Health test results only two, the total hardness results for August and September 2014, were just over guideline values as a result of lower flows in Yass River.
Mr Chapman said that low flows during the winter months cause increases in water hardness. High hardness levels can cause scale build up on appliances but do not cause any health impacts.
Yass Valley Council will continue to publish the monthly NSW Health monitoring results online at www.yassvalley.nsw.gov.au.