12 Apostles

29 Pages·2017·0.85 MB·English

by  Juliana Riotto

Parks Victoria

Water Quality

Annual Report

2016 - 2017

October 2017

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Parks Victoria Water Quality Annual Report 2016 - 2017
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Table of Contents

1 Overview ........................................................................................................................................................ 6
2 Drinking Water Quality Procedure and Proactive Management of Risks ........................................................ 7
2.1 Drinking Water Regulatory Framework ............................................................................................. 7
2.1.1 Safe Drinking Water Act 2003 ........................................................................................................... 8
2.1.2 Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2015 ............................................................................................. 8
2.1.3 Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2011 (updated November 2016) ............................................ 8
2.2 Parks Victoria Legal & Policy Framework .......................................................................................... 9
3 Overview of Water Supply Systems ............................................................................................................. 10
3.1 Tidal River Campground – Wilsons Promontory National Park ....................................................... 10
3.2 Twelve Apostles Visitor Facility – Port Campbell National Park ...................................................... 11
3.3 Water Supply System ...................................................................................................................... 13
3.4 Source Water .................................................................................................................................. 14
4 Drinking Water Treatment Processes ........................................................................................................... 16
5 Emergency, Incident and Event Management .............................................................................................. 18
6 Drinking Water Quality Standards ................................................................................................................ 19
6.1 Overview ......................................................................................................................................... 19
6.2 Compliance with Regulation 12(a) ................................................................................................... 19
6.2.1 Escherichia coli ............................................................................................................................... 19
6.2.2 Trihalomethanes.............................................................................................................................. 20
6.2.3 Turbidity .......................................................................................................................................... 21
6.3 Compliance with Regulation 12(b) ................................................................................................... 21
6.3.1 Aluminium ....................................................................................................................................... 21
6.3.2 Chloroacetic acid ............................................................................................................................. 21
6.3.3 Dichloroacetic acid .......................................................................................................................... 22
6.3.4 Trichloroacetic acid ......................................................................................................................... 22
6.3.5 Other parameters ............................................................................................................................ 22
7 Aesthetic characteristics ............................................................................................................................... 23
7.1 Overview ......................................................................................................................................... 23
7.1.1 pH .................................................................................................................................................... 23
7.1.2 Hardness ......................................................................................................................................... 23
7.1.3 Colour .............................................................................................................................................. 24
7.1.4 Iron .................................................................................................................................................. 24
7.1.5 Alkalinity .......................................................................................................................................... 24
8 Analysis of Water Sample Information ......................................................................................................... 25
9 Water Quality Complaints ............................................................................................................................. 28
10 Risk Management Plan Audit Results .......................................................................................................... 28
11 Undertakings ................................................................................................................................................ 28
12 Section 20 Exemptions ................................................................................................................................ 28
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Parks Victoria Water Quality Annual Report 2016 - 2017
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13 Aesthetic Standard Variations ...................................................................................................................... 28
14 Regulated Water .......................................................................................................................................... 28
15 Mineral Springs ............................................................................................................................................ 29

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Parks Victoria Water Quality Annual Report 2016 - 2017
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List of Tables
Table 1: Tidal River Campground - Water Supply Description .............................................................................. 11
Table 2: Twelve Apostles – Water Supply Description .......................................................................................... 13
Table 3: Water Supply Systems ............................................................................................................................ 13
Table 4: Drinking water treatment processes ........................................................................................................ 16
Table 5: Escherichia coli ....................................................................................................................................... 19
Table 6: Trihalomethanes ..................................................................................................................................... 20
Table 7: Trihalomethanes - Standard Not Met Summary Table ............................................................................ 20
Table 8: Turbidity .................................................................................................................................................. 21
Table 9: Aluminium ............................................................................................................................................... 21
Table 10: Chloroacetic acid ................................................................................................................................... 21
Table 11: Dichloroacetic acid ................................................................................................................................ 22
Table 12: Trichloroacetic acid ............................................................................................................................... 22
Table 13: pH.......................................................................................................................................................... 23
Table 14: Hardness ............................................................................................................................................... 23
Table 15: Colour.................................................................................................................................................... 24
Table 16: Iron ........................................................................................................................................................ 24
Table 17: Alkalinity ................................................................................................................................................ 24

List of Figures
Figure 1: Parks Victoria statewide map and Safe Drinking Water localities ............................................................ 6
Figure 2: Location of Tidal River Campground - Wilsons Promontory National Park ............................................ 10
Figure 3: Location of Twelve Apostles Visitor Facility – Port Campbell National Park .......................................... 12
Figure 4: Tidal River drinking water catchment ..................................................................................................... 14
Figure 5: E. coli samples achieving water quality standard (%) - Tidal River and Twelve Apostles ...................... 25
Figure 6: Turbidity samples achieving water quality standard (%) - Tidal River and Twelve Apostles .................. 25
Figure 7: Trihalomethanes samples achieving water quality standard (%) - Tidal River ....................................... 26
Figure 8: Aluminium, Chloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid samples achieving water quality
standard (%) - Tidal River ..................................................................................................................................... 26
Figure 9: Aesthetic water quality parameter samples achieving water quality standard (%) – Tidal River ............ 27

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Parks Victoria Water Quality Annual Report 2016 - 2017
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1 Overview
Parks Victoria is responsible for the management of parks and reserves covering
approximately 18% (4 million ha) of the land area of Victoria. The portfolio comprises
national parks, state parks, wilderness parks, marine and coastal parks, urban parks and
Crown Reserves. Parks Victoria’s role is to protect the natural and cultural values of the
parks and other assets we manage, while providing a great range of outdoor opportunities
for all Victorians and visitors.
Maintaining the health of our parks and reserves, while providing a range of excellent visitor
services not only contributes to the environmental health of our state but also to the physical
and social wellbeing of all Victorians.
At two of its visitor sites (Figure 1), Parks Victoria is responsible for providing potable
drinking water which meets the requirements set by the Safe Drinking Water Act 2003 (the
Act) and the Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2015 (the Regulations).
The Act and Regulations require that a Water Quality Annual Report, containing information
on water supply systems, treatment processes, treatment of risk, emergency and incident
management and compliance with drinking water quality standards be submitted to the
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and made publicly available.
Figure 1: Parks Victoria statewide map and Safe Drinking Water localities

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2 Drinking Water Quality Procedure and Proactive
Management of Risks
Parks Victoria is committed to:
• Providing a reliable and sustainable supply of drinking water at Tidal River
Campground and the Twelve Apostles Visitor Facility which consistently meets
standards outlined in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2011 (updated
November 2016)
• Providing appropriate signage at visitor sites across Victoria where a safe standard of
drinking water cannot be guaranteed.
These commitments are being fulfilled by:
• Complying with Victoria’s Safe Drinking Water Act 2003 and Safe Drinking Water
Regulations 2015
• Upgrading water treatment infrastructure to meet industry practice
• Ensuring that Parks Victoria and its contractors are trained and equipped to anticipate
and manage public health risks and responsibilities in the day-to-day implementation
of safe drinking water activities
• Continually assessing and improving performance and infrastructure
• Protecting drinking water catchments and waterways
• Remaining abreast of trends in treatment technology and small system management
and operation
• Working closely with its regional staff and contractors to implement risk management
plans to mitigate hazards to drinking water quality.
2.1 Drinking Water Regulatory Framework
The purpose of the Act is to make provision for the supply of safe drinking water in Victoria.
The Act has mandated that water suppliers and water storage managers prepare and
implement plans to manage risk in relation to drinking water and some types of non-potable
water, and review risk management plans for their water supplies. The Act also requires
water suppliers to ensure that the drinking water they supply meets quality standards
specified by the Regulations. In summary the legislation requires water businesses to:
• Develop and implement risk management plans
• Frequently test water quality at accredited laboratories
• Report water testing results to the DHHS
• Report water incidents to DHHS as required
• Provide customers with water quality information through annual reports.

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2.1.1 Safe Drinking Water Act 2003
According to the Act, Parks Victoria is required to have a documented risk management
plan for every supply that is intended as drinking water. Each risk management plan is to
specifically include the following components:
• Identification of hazards and risks to public health
• Measures taken to manage hazards and risks
• Features of a supply system which manage risks
• Methods of verifying effectiveness of these measures and features
• Procedures and management system
• Emergency management arrangements and procedures
• Contact lists of persons responsible for responding to incidents and managing
hazards.

2.1.2 Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2015
The Safe Drinking Water Regulations 2015 provide clarity and further guidance on the
Safe Drinking Water Act 2003 compliance requirements including:
• What is needed in a risk management plan
• Approval criteria for risk management plan auditors
• Water quality standards that must be met
• Required frequency of, and where to undertake water quality testing
• What is needed to be an accredited water analyst
• Information that needs to be included in annual reports.

2.1.3 Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2011 (updated November 2016)
The purpose of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2011 (ADWG) is to: ‘provide the
authoritative Australian reference for use within Australia’s administrative and legislative
framework to ensure the accountability of drinking water suppliers … The ADWG are not,
however, mandatory legally enforceable standards.’
The ADWG set the framework for management of drinking water quality, known as the ‘12
elements’. Parks Victoria has adopted the 12 elements approach in managing its drinking
water system.
The 12 elements comprise:
1. Commitment to drinking water quality management (by the organisation)
2. Assessment of the drinking water supply system
3. Preventive measures for drinking water quality management
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4. Ensuring operational procedures and process controls are in place
5. Verification of drinking water quality
6. Management of incidents and emergencies
7. Employee awareness and training
8. Community involvement and awareness
9. Research and development
10. Documentation and reporting
11. Evaluation and audit
12. Review and continual improvement.

The ADWG also provide definitions for two sets of guideline values:
Health-related guideline value
The concentration or measure of a water quality characteristic that, based on present
knowledge, does not result in any significant risk to the health of the consumer over a
lifetime of consumption.
Aesthetic guideline value
The concentration or measure of a water quality characteristic that is associated with the
acceptability of water to the consumer, e.g. appearance, taste and odour.

2.2 Parks Victoria Legal & Policy Framework
Parks Victoria recognises its obligations to ensure that any drinking water supplied to the
public meets quality standards as prescribed by the Act and Regulations.
The management of risk around supplying safe drinking water is also guided by Parks
Victoria’s internal policy and procedure framework.

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3 Overview of Water Supply Systems
Parks Victoria is committed to minimising risk to public health by providing a reliable and
safe supply of potable water at two locations in accordance with the Act and the
Regulations.
The locations which operate under this framework are Tidal River Campground in Wilsons
Promontory National Park and the Twelve Apostles Visitor Facility in Port Campbell
National Park.
3.1 Tidal River Campground – Wilsons Promontory National Park
Wilsons Promontory National Park is one of Victoria’s oldest and best-loved national parks,
and one of Victoria’s most significant tourist attractions. The park receives an estimated
400,000 visitors annually (based on 2016-17 visitor numbers), including day visitors and
overnight stays. Tidal River Campground (Figure 2) is the main accommodation area within
the park with approximately 2400 overnight visitors during peak periods (total campground
capacity for 4000 overnight visitors) plus day visitors, staff, volunteers and contractors.
Figure 2: Location of Tidal River Campground - Wilsons Promontory National Park

Circled cross symbol marks approximate location of Tidal River in Wilsons Promontory National Park

At Tidal River, Parks Victoria manages the Tidal River water treatment plant and its day to
day operations. Parks Victoria’s Tidal River Campground Safe Drinking Water Risk
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