Drinking Water

A safe drinking water supply is essential for good health. Drinking water is considered to be safe if it is free from harmful levels of disease-causing micro-organisms, physical, chemical and radiological contamination. The greatest water-related risk to human health is contamination of drinking water by human or animal excreta and with the micro-organisms contained in faeces.

In Tasmania drinking water may be provided by reticulated systems, which are controlled by local Councils or Bulk Water Suppliers. The Guidelines for Water Quality require Councils and Bulk Water Suppliers to manage their drinking water supply systems in accordance with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2004. For more detail about Tasmania's reticulated drinking water quality, please read the Annual Report - Drinking Water Quality, Tasmania 1 July 2004 - 30 June 2005.

Not everyone has access to reticulated drinking water. Some people rely on rainwater tanks, bores, dams, rivers and streams. For further information please go to Rural Water and Your Health.

Drinking Water Quality Guidelines

The revised Drinking Water Quality Guidelines were issued on 17 November 2005.

For further information or copies of the guidelines, please contact the Public and Environmental Health Service, phone 6222 7724 or email public.health@dhhs.tas.gov.au

Annual Drinking Water Quality Reports