Water Quality Reports
| The Water Corporation is committed to providing transparent reporting on water quality and groundwater monitoring results produced for the Groundwater Replenishment Trial. These reports will be made publicly available via the website and the e-newsletter (issued quarterly). Email groundwater.replenishment@watercorporation.com.au if you would like to subscribe to the newsletter. |
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Who regulates the trial?
The Trial produces recycled water in accordance with Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, the Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling and World Health Organisation guidelines and is closely regulated by the Departments of Health, Water and Environment and Conservation.
Water quality samples are tested off-site by independent laboratories, primarily at the State Chemistry Centre (ChemCentre).
How do we monitor the water?
Water quality is monitored before and after it is recharged into the ground to ensure that it meets the relevant guidelines. The results summarised in the table above show the recycled water quality before it is recharged.
Prior to recharge
Continuous monitoring of the recycled water quality inside the Advanced Water Recycling Plant ensures the treatment process is treating water to the required standards.
Water quality is monitored at checkpoints throughout the treatment process. If water does not meet the required standards when it reaches each checkpoint, an appropriate response is triggered. For example the recycled water is diverted back to the Beenyup Wastewater Treatment Plant or the Advanced Water Recycling Plant shuts down.
Water quality sampling and analysis is undertaken at various intervals: fortnightly; monthly; quarterly; or biannually depending on the level of risk associated with the substance being analysed.
Water samples are tested for the presence of chemicals, microorganisms; radioactivity and other physical parameters such as turbidity, total dissolved solids and pH levels. For more information about these substances, view the Testing Definitions.
 | More on water quality requirements |
After recharge (groundwater monitoring)
Groundwater monitoring helps us to understand how the recycled water affects the groundwater environment and how the recycled water moves through groundwater.
There are 22 monitoring bores located at five different sites around the Beenyup Facility monitoring different depth zones of the aquifer.
The distance and time taken for the recycled water to travel through the groundwater is determined by testing the temperature and conductivity of the groundwater.
Other samples taken determine the levels of nutrients, metals, organic carbon and salts in the groundwater and the effect that the recycled water has on these substances already existing in the groundwater environment.
Water quality sampling and analysis is undertaken at various intervals: fortnightly; monthly; quarterly; or annually depending on the requirement to understand the chemistry or level of risk associated with the parameter.
