Picture: Lake Fyans

Living with an untreated water supply

It’s important that residents and visitors to towns with untreated water supplies are aware of the town’s water quality and its fit-for-purpose use.

Where a town or rural pipeline water supply is not treated, the water is not safe drinking, food preparation, ice making, cleaning of teeth or any other human consumption purposes.

The water is suited for household activities, such as watering gardens, flushing toilets, showering/bathing, irrigation and laundry. Caution should be taken to avoid contact with broken skin or wounds.

GWMWater works with local councils to remind customers, by placing signage at public taps, that the water is not treated and is not fit for human consumption.

GWMWater monitors the water quality of untreated water supply towns and results are available upon request.

To find out which towns receive an untreated water supply, please visit our website at gwmwater.org.au/check-your-water-supply or contact us on 1300 659 961.

To ensure public safety, we ask that you:

  • Don’t use the town or rural pipeline water supply for drinking, food preparation, ice making, cleaning of teeth or any other human consumption purposes.
  • Avoid swallowing the water e.g. while showering or bathing.
  • Avoid contact with broken skin or wounds.
  • Consider disconnecting the town or rural pipeline water supply from areas which may encourage drinking or accidental swallowing.
  • Make sure no cross-connections exist between the town or rural pipeline water supply and your drinking water source.
  • Advise visitors to your home and your town not to drink the town water supply.

Landlords:

Landlords must let tenants know if their water is untreated and not fit for human consumption. To assist landlords, we can provide suitable handouts free of charge.

Please see the below handouts or contact us on 1300 659 961 during business hours to request copies. You are also welcome to call us to talk to a staff member about your or your tenant's water supply.

Businesses and Councils:

We ask councils, managers of commercial businesses and community groups (such as hotels, motels, caravan parks, bed and breakfast houses and club houses, etc.) in towns that do not have a drinking water supply to:

  • Mount and maintain signage on or next to taps in public areas e.g. parks, public toilets, schools, caravan parks, club houses, sporting venues and halls.
  • Advise guests that the water at your establishment is untreated and is not fit for human consumption.

Suitable signage and publications are available, free of charge, from GWMWater:

  • Do not drink the water signs and stickers - available in two sizes.
  • 'Living with an untreated water supply brochure' brochure.
  • Untreated water supply poster for placement above sinks in community accessed kitchens and bathrooms.
  • Untreated water supply notice listing towns and rural pipelines that do not receive a drinking water supply.

To order any of the above, please complete our order form at gwmwater.org.au/uws-order or contact us during  business hours on 1300 659 961.

For further information, please contact us on 1300 659 961.