Subject: IS BORE WATER SAFE TO DRINK?
From: "De Bruins" <debruins@tpgi.com.au>
Organization: A Customer of TPG Internet Pty Ltd
Date: Tue, 6 Jan 1998 00:04:16 +1100
Message-ID: <MOD$980105.2121@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
We live in a temperate zone in the Australian countryside. For more than 4
years now, we have depended on rainwater for domestic, waste and garden use.
Recently we have had a bore sunk. The results showed that there was an
excess of nitrates (unsuitable for human consumption). Local farmers have
been using their bore water for a variety of uses for years now (although
they say they make sure the rainwater tank is at least half full, so that it
dilutes the borewater). They assure us that the water is quite ok. We're
confused! Can anyone else advise?
Details are as follows:
Age of bore: 5 months
Depth of bore: 140 feet
Date of test: 1 December 1997
Report states: '... the water complied with the microbiological drinking
water standard, however a number of the chemical components exceeded safe
levels for drinking. Nitrate occurs naturally and is increasing in some
ground waters, possibly due to intensive farming and sewage effluent
pollution. While bottle fed infants should not drink water with nitrate
levels exceeding 10 milligrams per Litre, adults and children over 3 months
can safely drink water containing up to 20 milligrams per Litre of nitrate."
"The turbidity of the water sample was measured at 8.3 NTU which exceeds the
drinking water guideline limit of 5NTU"
Results of test:
Turbidity 8.3
Nitrate mg/L 12
Does anybody out there know anything about this chemical analysis and
report? Is there a site which we can consult?
Thanks in advance
Helen
The