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A guide to completing

a water supply

management plan

For schools using private

drinking water supplies

health



A guide to completing

a water supplymanagement plan

For schools using private

drinking water supplies



Acknowledgement

I you would like to receive this publication in an accessible ormat,

please phone 1300 761 874 using the National Relay

Service 13 36 77 i required, or email: [email protected]

This document is also available in PDF ormat on the internet at:

www.health.vic.gov.au/oodsaety/bus/resources.htm

Published by the Environmental Health Unit, Victorian Government,

Department o Health, Melbourne, Victoria

Authorised by the State Government o Victoria, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.

© Copyright, State o Victoria, Department o Health, 2011

This publication is copyright, no part may be reproduced by any process except

in accordance with the provisions o the Copyright Act 1968.

Authorised by the State Government o Victoria, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.

Printed on sustainable paper by Patterson Press,1-9 Doonside Street, Richmond.

May 2011 (1006022)

The Department o Health would like to acknowledge NSW Health or allowing

the adaptation o material rom its publication Private water supply guidelines.



Foreword

The Department o Health is committed to the provision o sae drinking

water supplies to all Victorians. While this work largely ocuses on the oversight

o water corporations to ensure the drinking water delivered out o our taps

does not cause illness, we must not orget that not all drinking water supplies

in Victoria are managed by the water industry.

There are many schools in rural and regional Victoria which are not serviced

by water corporations, but rather these schools rely on other sources such

as rainwater or bore water.

This guidance document has been developed to assist rural and regional

schools to understand the risk management expectations and to eectively

manage the risks associated with their private drinking water supplies.

Managing risks associated with private drinking water supplies requires a

long-term commitment rom school management. It is the responsibility o

schools to exercise a duty o care and ensure that drinking water supplies

are protective o human health. This can be achieved by the adoption o

the preventive risk-based approach described in this guidance document.

The Department o Health, in partnership with the Department o Education

and Early Childhood Development, is committed to working with schools to

acilitate the ongoing provision o sae drinking water supplies. We would like

to recommend this guide to schools with private drinking water supplies asa practical source o advice or managing their water supply systems.

Dr John Carnie

Chie Health Ocer

Department o Health

Dr Jenny Proimos

Principal Medical Advisor

Department o Education and

Early Childhood Development





Introduction 1

What is a private drinking water supply? 1

How to use this guide 1

Legal aspects 1

Water sources 2

What is a water supply system? 2

Is there enough fuoride in my private drinking water supply? 2

A water supply management plan: How to ensure your water supply is sae 3

Step 1: Nominate a person to be responsible or the water supply system 3

Step 2: Provide a detailed description o the water supply system 3

Step 3: Identiy hazards and ways to manage risks to the water supply 3

Ways to minimise risks to a rainwater supply system 4

Ways to minimise risks to a groundwater supply system 5

Step 4: Document operation, monitoring and maintenance procedures or the water supply system 6

Testing the quality o the water 6

Shutdown periods 7

Step 5: Have an emergency management plan in place 7

Gastrointestinal outbreaks in schools 7

Taking corrective action 8

Boiling water 8

Carted water 8

Further inormation 9

Reerences 10

Appendices

Appendix 1: Water supply management plan template 11

Appendix 2: Water supply management plan checklist 12

Appendix 3: Common sources o rainwater contamination and how to reduce the risks 13

Appendix 4: Common sources o groundwater contamination and how to reduce the risks 15

Appendix 5: List o maintenance activities or private water supply systems 17

Appendix 6: Checklist or inspecting and maintaining a rainwater supply system 18

Appendix 7: Checklist or inspecting and maintaining a groundwater supply system 21

Appendix 8: Common ways to treat a water supply 25

Glossary 28

Contents





1

Introduction

Throughout Victoria there are schools

and acilities that rely on private water

supplies. Schools and acilities that

have private drinking water supplies

have the responsibility to manage

their water supply systems and

ensure the water provided or drinking

is sae. This guide is designed

specically or Victorian schools that

rely on private drinking water supplies.

Outbreaks o gastroenteritis can

occur as a result o people drinking

contaminated water rom private

drinking water supplies and the risk

o illness can be greatly reduced by

obtaining water rom a good quality

source and regularly maintaining and

monitoring the water supply system.

A water supply management plan

(WSMP) is a structured plan designed

to assist schools and acilities tomanage private drinking water

supplies. Completing a WSMP helps

identiy those risks associated with a

water supply system that should be

appropriately managed. Guidelines

or private drinking water supplies at

commercial and community acilities

2009 and the Private water supply

guidelines by NSW Health provide

general guidance or commercial

and community acilities on how toprepare and implement a WSMP.

What is a private drinking

water supply?

When treated reticulated (mains)

drinking water is not available,

an alternative source o water is

required; this alternative water

supply is reerred to as a private

water supply. I the private water

supply is used or drinking, thenthe water supply is reerred to as

a private drinking water supply.

How to use this guide

This guide is designed to help

schools complete a WSMP.

It details each step o the WSMP,

ollowed by an example template.

Included are examples o two types

o private drinking water supplies:

• rainwater

• groundwater.

These examples can be used as

guidance on what to include in a

WSMP. Every water supply system

is dierent so the examples in this

guide may not cover all the hazards

and risks that need to be considered

or each water supply system.

Legal aspects

I a school uses a private drinking

water supply to provide drinking

water or prepare ood or others,

there is a responsibility to make

sure the water will not pose a risk

to public health. I registered under

the Children’s Services Regulations

2009, Food Act 1984 (Vic), Public

Health and Wellbeing Regulations

2009, or Residential Tenancies

(Caravan Parks and Moveable

Dwellings Registration and Standards)

Regulations 2010, the law requires

that water supplied as drinking

water is t or human consumption.

Children’s Services

Regulation 2009

Any child being cared or or

educated by a children’s service

must ‘have access to resh drinking

water at all times’. In addition,

‘all ood and beverages on the

premises intended or consumption

are protected at all times rom

contamination’.

The Food Act 1984

The Food Act requires ood

businesses to use drinking water

or ood preparation at registered

ood premises. This includes water

used or washing ood ingredients,

cooking, adding to ood and

drinks, making ice, cleaning,

sanitising and hand-washing.

Food businesses are required to

record details o any private water

supply and how it is managed in

their ood saety program.



2

Water sources

The main sources o private water

supplies include:

• rainwater

• groundwater

• cartedwater.

Adopt a risk management approach

to assess what source o water

is most suitable or your school’ssituation. Figure 1 shows the risk

hierarchy o water sources or private

drinking water supplies. The risk

hierarchy can be used to assist in

the choice o private drinking water

source. Caution and consideration

should be taken to ensure the

drinking water source selected is t

or drinking. Adopt a low-risk water

source using the highest quality water

available. For example, rainwateris considered a high-quality water

source with lower risk than surace

water. Surace water is considered

high risk and is not recommended

as a drinking water source. The

quality o surace water cannot be

guaranteed due to the variability in

water quality and possibility o any

contamination events occurring

upstream impacting on the quality

o water downstream.

In instances where a reliable source

o drinking water is not available, or

example during outdoor activities

such as hiking and camping, always

ensure a sucient quantity o drinking

water is available. I it is not easible

to bring drinking water with you,

ensure an alternative drinking water

supply is available and t or drinking

by taking the necessary precautions

and treatment.

What is a water

supply system?

A water supply system includes

everything rom the collection o the

source water through to the point

where the water is used or drinking

(such as a tap). Mapping out your

water supply system will assist in

developing your WSMP.

Example

Is there enough fuoride in my

private drinking water supply?

Rainwater does not contain

fuoride, however some ground

water supplies may. In the absence

o a reticulated fuoridated drinking

water supply, fuoride supplements

should not be added to private

drinking water supplies. For

people who live in communities

without water fuoridation,

it is important to undertake the

ollowing measures or good

oral health:

•maintainahealthydiet

•haveregulardentalcheckups

•useuoridatedtoothpaste

appropriately.

More inormation on water

fuoridation is available at

www.health.vic.gov.au/

environment/fuoridation/index.htm

Figure 1: The risk hierarchy or water sources used in private drinking

water supplies

A rainwater supply system

Water source

Collection o rainwater rom

roo/gutters

Storage and

distribution system

Storage tank (rainwater tank

and distribution pipes)

Treatment

Filtration/chlorine disinection

Lowest risk

Highest risk

Mains water

Rainwater

Deep groundwater

Shallow groundwater

Surfacewater



3

A water supply management plan:

How to ensure your water supply is safe

To keep the school’s water supply

sae or human consumption, the

ollowing steps should be taken.

Step 1: Nominate a person

to be responsible or the

water supply system

Someone should be nominated as

responsible or the water supply

system. The role will require them

to make sure the water supply

system is adequately managed,

treated and routinely monitored to

ensure the private drinking water

is o a potable quality.

This rst step requires organisational

commitment and preventative

measures to ensure the responsible

use and management o the water

supply.

The ollowing details should bedetailed in the WSMP:

School details

1. Name o school

2. Principal

3. School’s contact details

4. Principal’s contact details

(including out-o-school hours)

Responsibility or system

monitoring and maintenance1. Name o the person responsible or

the water supply system, plus their:

• roleandresponsibilities

• contactdetails(including

out-o-school-hours)

2. Name o a second person

responsible, plus their:

• roleandresponsibilities

• contactdetails(including

out-o-school-hours)

Step 2: Provide a detailed

description o the water

supply system

A detailed description and map o

the water supply system is important

to help understand how the system

works. The description and map

should include:

• thewatersource

• storageanddistributioninformation

• anytreatmentappliedtothewater

• locationofanywastewater

systems (or example, septic tanks,

disposal absorption trenches)

• theendusesofthewater.

A variety o methods can be used

to map out the water supply system.

Each school should use a ormat that

best suits their needs. For a WSMP

template and fow diagram to mapout the water supply system, reer

to Appendix 1. A WSMP checklist is

provided in Appendix 2. Schools are

encouraged to use this checklist to

ensure all elements relating to their

WSMP are implemented. Please

note that additional actions specic

or each school should be added to

this checklist.

Step 3: Identiy hazards

and ways to manage risks

to the water supply

A thorough risk assessment o the

water supply system should be

completed. A good understanding

o the water supply system is

required in order to identiy all

potential hazards to the water

supply and possible sources o contamination. The identied

hazards need to be managed and

adequately addressed to minimise

any risk to the water supply. This is

done by measures such as routine

maintenance o the system, and i

required, appropriate treatment.

Factors to consider when identiying

hazards:

• possiblesourcesofcontamination

and any control measures to take

• sourcewater

• storageandriskofcontamination

inputs above ground and below

ground

• treatmentfailure

• pipework(cross-connectionrisks

and biolm growth).

To help manage risks, Figures 2–3

illustrate some examples o ways

to minimise risks to the school’s

water supply. Additional examples

o common causes o contamination

are detailed in Appendices 3–4.



4

Figure 2: Ways to minimise risks to a rainwater supply system

Rainwater contamination hazards include:

• roofmaterialssuchasroofs

coated in bitumen products

or lead-based paints

• animalfaeces

• leavesanddebris

• ashandchemicalsfromwood

heaters (or example in instanceswhere chimneys and fues are not

installed properly or the burning

o inappropriate uel)

• pesticidesandfertilisersfrom

aerial spraying.

Screens installed

on all tank inlets,

outlets and vents

Light-proofing tank

and plumbing to

minimise algae growth

Gutters maintained

and regularly cleaned

Roof surface is suitable

for collecting rainwater

First flush device installed

to prevent the most

contaminated rainwater

from entering the tank

Securely

covered tank

Water disinfected

to remove most

disease-causing

microorganisms, for

example chlorination

TV antenna

mounted off

the roof

Remove

overhanging

branches

Leaf stopper installed

Holding tank



5

Figure 3: Ways to minimise risks to a groundwater supply system

Groundwater contamination hazards include:

• sewage

• animalfaeces

• industrialandagriculturalrun-off

(such as pesticides and ertilisers)

• seepagefromrubbish

• pollutedstormwater

• chemicalspills

• naturallyoccurringchemicals

(such as arsenic)

• contaminatedsurfacewaters.

Septic tank system maintained

Appropriate buffer distance between bore and septic tank system

Pump mounted

on a separate

concrete slab

Bore surrounded with a concrete

slab sloping away from the bore

casing for suface drainage

Bore fenced

off to prevent

access

Light-proofing

tank and plumbing

to minimise

algae growth

Bore cover securely in

place to prevent entry of

pests and contaminants

Ultra violet

disinfection to

remove most

disease-causing

microorganisms

Water filtered

to remove

contaminants

Filter Holding tankBore Pump Disinfection unit

Septic tank

Screens

installed

on all tank

inlets, outlets

and vents

Securely

covered tank



6

Step 4: Document operation,

monitoring and maintenance

procedures or the water

supply system

Document the standard operating

procedures or the school’s

water supply system, including

what procedures to ollow or

regular operation, monitoring and

maintenance. Appendix 5 provides a list o

maintenance activities or private

water supply systems. Tailor the list

to suit the school’s water supply

system and add additional items as

necessary. Reer to Appendices 6–7

or template checklists or rainwater,

and groundwater supply systems.

Treating the water supply helps to

ensure the health o consumers is

not placed at risk. The most common

treatment methods include ltration

and disinection (ultraviolet light

and chlorine). To select the best

method to treat the school’s water,

consider consulting a water treatment

specialist.

Reer to Appendix 8 and Your private

drinking water supply 2006 or

more inormation on ltration and

disinection treatments.

For each monitoring activity, the

ollowing inormation should be

recorded:

• personresponsible(including

contact details)

• frequencyofmonitoring

• procedureused

• outcomeofmonitoringactivity.

Records should be kept or:

• resultsofsysteminspections

• resultsofmicrobialandchemical

testing

• treatmentperformance(include

indicators such as chlorine levels,

UV intensity and turbidity)

• details(dateandtype)of

maintenance carried out on the

water system, including calibrationo any monitoring equipment

and equipment manuacturer

maintenance and replacement

schedules

• incidentsandthecorrective

actions taken

• deliveriesofcartedwater

• thepostingofwarningsigns.

I the school has a treatment process

in place, keep records o water supplyinspections and test results or at

least two years.

An environmental health ocer rom

your local council has the authority to

ask or maintenance and monitoring

records o the school’s water supply

system. The ocer may sample the

water or compliance against the

Australian drinking water guidelines.

Testing the quality

o your water

In certain circumstances, the

school may need to use a water-

testing laboratory to check the

quality o its drinking water.

Water samples should be sent

to a laboratory accredited by the

National Association o Testing Authorities (NATA) to ensure the

highest level o accuracy. Contact

the laboratory to get details o

sampling protocols. Look in the

business telephone directory

under the heading ‘Analysts’ or

contact NATA to nd a laboratory

in your area.

As a minimum, the quality o the

water should be tested:

• beforeusingthewaterfrom

a new treatment system

• afteratreatmentsystemhas

been altered

• afterasignicanteventthat

may have aected water quality

• afterprolongedperiodsof

treatment system shutdown.

A signicant event would include

(but is not limited to) events such

as food, re, dust storms, chemical

spills and bushre.



7

Shutdown periods

Water may become stagnant in

pipes ater periods o prolonged

shutdown. To ensure stagnant

water is not delivered in the

drinking water supply, fush out

pipes in the water supply system

ater prolonged shutdown periods

such as term holidays and end-o

-year breaks.

Step 5: Have an emergency

management plan in place

Schools should plan how to respond

i an emergency occurs, include

contingency plans and who to notiy.

Unusual events can contaminate

water supplies that are normally

clean. These events might include:• sewageorchemicalspills

• deadanimalsinastoragetank

• bushres

• equipmentfailure

• algalblooms.

I you suspect that the school’s

private drinking water supply has

been contaminated, act immediately

to ensure everyone with access

to the water is notied. Advise

teachers o the situation and

prevent students rom accessing

potentially contaminated water.

Put up adequate signage to warn

that the water is, or may be, unsae

to drink. Ensure that potable water

is available via an alternative source

such as bottled water or carted water

rom a registered water carter.

I there are any cases o illness due

to consumption o the contaminated

drinking water, the aected individual

should be provided with school-level

medical assistance or assessed by

a doctor.

I the water has been contaminated,

the microbiological or chemical levels

may have to be tested at a water-

testing laboratory. You may wish toconsult with your local environmental

health ocer, the Department o

Health’s Environmental Health Unit

or a water treatment specialist or

advice. I the water cannot be treated

to a standard sae or drinking, you

should provide an alternative drinking

water supply until the regular water

supply is proven to be sae.

Gastrointestinal outbreaks

in schools

I there are two or more associated

cases o gastrointestinal

disease conrmed by a medical

practitioner, the school is required

to notiy Communicable Diseases

Prevention and Control at the

Department o Health immediately

by phone on 1300 651 160. The

school principal should ensure

that sta, parents and the school

community are aware o the

outbreak and make sure anyone

suering rom gastroenteritis

symptoms seeks medical attention

and is excluded rom attending

school until the symptoms have

ceased. Viral gastroenteritis

is highly contagious and can

be transmitted via person–to-

person contact or contact with

contaminated suraces. Bacterial

gastroenteritis can be transmitted

via contaminated ood or water.

I your school’s private drinking

water supply is conrmed as the

source o gastroenteritis inection,

as a priority, immediately stop

using the supply o contaminated

water or drinking purposes.

Inorm all teachers and students

o the contamination and prevent

access to the contaminated water.

Make sure an alternative source o

drinking water is available. Contact

your local council’s environmental

health ocer or assistance.



8

Taking corrective action

I monitoring indicates that the

school’s water supply is unt or

drinking, corrective action must

be taken. This may include:

• stoppingthesupply,putting

up warning signs (such as “do

not drink”) or notiying water

users i the water is suspectedto being contaminated

• sealingthetankandremoving

the source o contamination

• installingnewordifferentwater

treatment systems

• emergencydisinfection

• roofcleaningandgutterrepairs

• arranginganalternativesource

o drinking water.

• undertakingmaintenancework

on water treatment systems,

such as changing lter

cartridges or UV lamps

It is important that records are

kept o any corrective actions that

are undertaken to make the water

supply sae.

Boiling water

Bringing water to the rolling boil

is an eective means o disinecting

small amounts o water quickly

i microbial contamination is

suspected. Water should be

brought to a rolling boil to

disinect it.

It is important to note that coee

machines do not necessarily

boil water. Water must be treated

beore being dispensed into a

coee machine.

.

Carted water

In some circumstances the school

may need to top up its tank with

carted water. Carted water must be

o drinking quality and transported

by a registered water carter rom a

supply approved by a Victorian water

corporation. Contact your local water

corporation or more inormation or

reer to the Guidelines or drinking

(potable) water transport in Victoria

or more inormation.

The storage tank should be cleaned

beore potable water is delivered

to prevent any sludge being

re-suspended, which may cause

odour or water-quality issues. I the

tank has not been cleaned beore

delivery, a settling period ollowed

by treatment (such as disinection)

may be needed. Where cleaningnecessitates entering the tank,

always ensure a proessional tank

cleaner is employed. Working in

conned spaces is dangerous

and should only be carried out by

proessionals. (For more inormation

contact WorkSae Victoria.)

Alternatively, proessional rainwater

tank cleaners can be ound in the

business telephone directory

under ‘tank cleaning’.



9

Local government

Environmental health ocer

For enquiries about the saety o

your private drinking water supply,

identiying hazards and managing

risks to the school’s water supply

system, water-related issues or

emergency water treatment, contact

the environmental health ocer at

your local council (reer to the White pages or the Municipal Association o

Victoria website at www.mav.asn.au).

Department o Health

For enquiries about the saety o your

private drinking water supply reer

to the Guidelines or private drinking

water supplies at commercial and

community acilities at www.health.

vic.gov.au/oodsaety or contact:

Environmental Health Unit

1300 761 874

www.health.vic.gov.au/environment

Regional environmental health

ocer (REHO)

Barwon-South Western Region

Geelong oce (03) 5226 4540

Eastern Metropolitan Region

Box Hill oce (03) 9843 6000

Gippsland Region

Traralgon oce (03) 5177 2500

Grampians Region

Ballarat oce (03) 5333 6669

Hume Region

Wangaratta oce (03) 5722 0654

Loddon Mallee Region

Bendigo oce (03) 5434 5555

North & West Metropolitan Region

Fitzroy oce (03) 9412 5333

Southern Metropolitan Region

Dandenong oce (03) 9213 2005

For notication o two or more

related cases o suspected ood -

or water-borne illness, contact:

Communicable Diseases

Prevention and Control

1300 651 160

Department o Education and

Early Childhood Development

For inormation regarding

requirements o Victorian schools

with private drinking water supplies or

or issues regarding inrastructure or

Victorian schools with private drinking

water supply systems, contact:

Regional acility manager

Barwon-South Western Region

Geelong oce (03) 5225 1010

Eastern Metropolitan Region

Glen Waverly oce (03) 9265 2437

Gippsland Region

Moe oce (03) 5127 0484

Grampians Region

Ballarat oce (03) 5310 5308

Hume Region

Benalla oce (03) 5761 2159

Loddon Mallee Region

Bendigo oce (03) 5440 3148

Northern Metropolitan Region

Coburg oce (03) 9488 9434

Southern Metropolitan Region

Dandenong oce (03) 9794 3545

Western Metropolitan Region

Footscray oce (03) 9291 6527

Inrastructure Division

(03) 9637 3063

Rural Water Corporation

For inormation on groundwater

use, licensing and bore

construction, contact:

Southern Rural Water

1300 139 510

Goulburn-Murray Water

(03) 5833 5500

National Association o

Testing Authorities (NATA)

accredited laboratoriesFor details o laboratories with

accreditation or particular water-

quality testing, phone (03) 9329 1633

or visit www.nata.asn.au.

Business telephone directory

For the details o businesses that

provide water treatment advice and

solutions to water supply issues,

analysts, tank supplies, tank cleaning,

maintenance services and watercarting, consult your local or preerred

business telephone directory.

Further information



10

Australian drinking water guidelines

(2004), National Health and

Medical Research Council/National

Management Ministerial Council,

Commonwealth o Australia,

Canberra. Available rom:

http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/

publications/synopses/eh19syn.

htm#comp

Guidance on the use o rainwater tanks, enHealth council (2004).

Available rom: http://www.health.

gov.au/internet/main/publishing.ns/

Content/ohp-enhealth-raintank-cnt.

htm

Guidelines or environmental

management code o practice - onsite

wastewater management publication

891.2 (2008), EPA Victroria. Available

rom: http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/

water/wastewater/onsite.asp

Guidelines or potable (drinking)

water transport in Victoria (2008),

Department o Human Services.

Available rom: http://www.health.vic.

gov.au/oodsaety/downloads/water_

transport_guidelines01.pd

Guidelines or private drinking

water supplies at commercial

and community acilities (2009),

Department o Human Services. Available rom: http://www.health.

vic.gov.au/oodsaety/downloads/1_

guidelines_report.pd

Private water supply guidelines

(2008), NSW Health. Available rom:

http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/

resources/publichealth/environment/

water/pd/pwsg.pd

Your private drinking water supply

(2006), Department o Human

Services. Available rom: http://

www.health.vic.gov.au/environment/

downloads/your_private_drinking_water_supply.pd’

References



11

Water source(s)

Uses o the supply

Treatment methods

Map o system

Example

Rainwater Groundwater Dam Other

Drinking Food preparation (including cleaning ood preparation suraces)

Hand washing Bathing Other, please explain _____________________________

Filtration Chlorine UV light Other, please speciy _______________________

Use this fow diagram to map your system. Include your water source, storage

tanks and treatment systems.

Appendix 1: Water supply

management plan template

Rainwater

First-fush diverter

Filtration

Storage tank

Drinking

Manual disinection –

chlorination



12

Appendix 2: Water supply

management plan checklist

Schools are encouraged to

use this checklist to ensure the

elements relating to the water

supply management plan have

been implemented.

1. Record school’s details and details

o nominated person

2. Provide a detailed description o the

water supply system

3. Identiy hazards and ways to manage

risks to the water supply

4. Document operation, monitoring and

maintenance procedures or the water

supply system

5. Have an emergency management

plan in place

Checklist ActionStep

A nominated person(s) is assigned to be responsible or the

school’s water supply system.

The school’s details and details o the nominated person(s) are

recorded and in a readily accessible location.

A detailed description and map o the water source and water

supply system have been documented.

A thorough risk assessment identiying hazards to the water supply

system has been completed.

Reer to Appendices 3–5 or potential hazards.

The hazards and identied risks are appropriately addressed

and managed.

The standard operating procedures or the water supply system

are documented.

All regular monitoring activities are identied and documented.

All regular maintenance activities are identied and documented.

This includes methods or water supply sample testing by NATA

accredited laboratories.

An emergency management plan has been developed.

This includes contingency plans and who to notiy.

Where contamination o the water supply is suspected, access

and delivery o water is suspended.

Where the water supply system is suspected or conrmed to

be contaminated, an alternative drinking water supply is made

available.

Corrective action is taken to ensure the water supply is saeor drinking. This includes appropriate treatment and disposal

o contaminated water.



13

Appendix 3: Common sources of rainwater

contamination and how to reduce the risks

Build-up o leaves, dirt

and animal droppings

Roo material (such as

lead-based)

Spray drit (such as

pesticides and ertilisers)

Solar hot-water system,

overfows and bleed-o pipes rom roo-mounted

appliances such as

cooling systems and

hot-water services

Build-up o dirt and debris

in strainers

Birds, animals, insects,

algal growth

Sediment build-up within

the tank

Tank materials

Roo and

gutter

Screens and

strainers

Storage tank

Action

System

component

Source o

contamination

• Installarst-ushdiverter

• Cleantheguttersandroofregularly

• Installguttershields

•MountTVantennaeoffroof

•Maintaintheguttering

• Removeoverhangingbranches

•Useleafltersorscreeningatthetankinlet

• Conductregularinspections

• Treatthewater(ltrationanddisinfection)

• Don’tcollectwaterfromroofscoatedorpaintedwithsubstancesthat

may leach hazardous materials (such as lead rom lead-based paints)

•Maintainroof,guttersanddownpipesingoodcondition

•Replaceleadashing

• Sealanyexposedtreatedtimber

•Cleantheguttersandroofregularly

• Installarst-ushdiverter

• Don’tcollectwaterfromtheguttersbelowsolarhotwatersystems

• Ensureoverowandbleed-offpipesdonotdischargeontotheroof or into gutters that collect the rainwater supply

•Cleanscreensandstrainersregularly


• Installscreensonalltankinletsandoverowswithmaximum1mm

mesh

•Coverthetankwithalight-proofcover

• Conductregularinspectionsoftankcoversandscreenstoensure

they are intact


• Clean(desludge)regularly(minimumeverytwoyears)

• Cleanbeforereceiptofcartedwater

• Locatethedraw-offpointfortakingwaterfromthetankatleast

150 mm above the base o the tank (the manuacturer’s minimum

height or the draw-o point should be noted)

• EnsurestoragetankscomplywithAustralianStandards.Referto

enHealth Guidance on use o rainwater tanks (available online at http://

www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.ns/Content/ohp-enhealth-

raintank-cnt.htm )

• Ensurethetankisstructurallysound

•ChemicallyadjustpHinnewconcretetanks



14

Seepage rom surace

water/sub-surace water

such as sewage rom a

septic tank

Pump and plumbing

materials

In-ground

storage tank

Action

System

component

Source o

contamination

• Ensurethetankisproperlydesignedandsealedtoprevententry

o surace or sub-surace water

• Ensurethetankisnotburiedinlandcontaminatedwithchemicals

• Ensurethebufferdistancebetweenthetankandwastewater

disposal system complies with EPA publication 891.2: Guidelines or

Environmental Management: Code o Practice - Onsite wastewater

management (available online at http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/water/

wastewater/onsite.asp). Alternatively contact your local council’senvironmental health ocer or urther advice


• Ensureburiedpipesareinstalledawayfromandshallowerthan

septic tanks or wastewater pipe work

• Ensurealltankmaterialsincontactwithdrinkingwatercomplywith

Australian Standards.



15

Appendix 4: Common sources of groundwater

contamination and how to reduce the risks

Surace water run-o

Sub-surace contaminants

Sewage

Leaching rom bore

casings, pipes or

plumbing materials

Naturally occurring

chemicals within water

(such as heavy metals

and arsenic)

Chemical spillage

Birds, animals, insects,

algal growth

Sediment build-up within

the tank

Pump

Bore

Storage tank

How to reduce the risk

System

component

Source o

contamination

• Raisetheboreheadabovetheground,surfacedrainageowsaway

rom the bore head

• Ensuretheboreissurroundedwithaconcreteslabwiththebore

casing protruding above the slab and sloping away rom the bore head

• Ensuretheborecoverissecurelyinplaceandfreefromholesorcracks

• Ensuretheborecasingisintact

• Locatelivestockfencesatleast50mfrombore



• Avoidextractingwaterfromsiteswithknowncontaminants,including

heavy industrial and intensive agricultural areas

• Testthesourcewaterforchemicals


•Ensure the buer distance between bore and wastewater disposal

system complies with EPA publication 891.2: Guidelines or


management (contact your local council’s environmental health ocer

or urther advice)

•Maintaintheseptictanksystem• Treatthewater(ltrationanddisinfection)

• Testthesourcewaterandassessresultsagainstguidelinevaluesinthe

Australian drinking water guidelines

• Ensureallmaterialsincontactwithdrinkingwatercomplywith

Australian Standards


• Ensureenginesaremountedonaseparateconcreteslab

• Ensurefueloroilspillageispreventedfromgettinginthebore

•Maintainthepumptopreventdeteriorationofthefueland lubricant lines

• Installscreensonalltankinletsandoverowswithmaximum

1mm mesh

• Coverandsealthetankwithalight-proofcover



• Clean(desludge)regularly(minimumeverytwoyears)

• Cleanbeforereceiptofcartedwater

• Locatethedraw-offpointfortakingwaterfromthetankatleast150

mm above the base o the tank (the manuacturer’s minimum height

or the draw-o point should be noted)



16

Tank materials

Tank materials

Stagnant water in pipes

Pump and plumbing

materials

Seepage rom surace

water/sub-surace water

such as sewage rom

septic tank

Storage tank

In-ground

storage tank

Distribution

lines

How to reduce the risk

System

component

Source o

contamination

• EnsurestoragetankscomplywithAustralianStandards

•Makesuretheyarestructurallysound

• ChemicallyadjustpHinnewconcretetanks

• Ensurethetankisproperlydesignedandsealedtoprevententry

o surace or sub-surace water

• Ensurethetankisnotburiedinlandcontaminatedwithchemicals

• Ensurethebufferdistancebetweenthetankandwastewaterdisposal system complies with EPA publication 891.2: Guidelines or


management (contact your local council’s environmental health ocer

or urther advice)


•Maintainthesystem

• Flushthepipeworkifnotusedformorethanone week

• Ensurepipesareself-drainingordrainedeverysixmonths

• Burypipesatleast300mmbelowgroundandprotectthemfrom

tree roots

• Haveaplumberdoublecheckanyplumbingworkstoensureno

cross-connections have occurred

• Ensureburiedpipesareinstalledawayfromandshallowerthanseptic

tanks or wastewater pipe work

• Ensureallmaterialsincontactwithdrinkingwatercomplywith

Australian Standards



17

Appendix 5: List of maintenance

activities for private water supply systems

Water source: rainwater

Water source: groundwater

Tank

Distribution system

Treatment system

Water quality testing

Clean spouting/gutters (three-monthly and ater storms)

Check and trim overhanging branches (annually)Inspect and repair downpipes (annually)

Check condition o roo (annually)

Check the bore head and any other mechanisms installed is watertight

and protected rom surace fows (monthly)

Check bore is securely protected such as ences, locks (monthly)

Check maintenance and operation o the pump ( monthly)

Check inlet and outlet screens (three-monthly)

Check access covers (monthly)

Clear strainer o debris (three-monthly and ater storms)

Check or presence o mosquito larvae in tank water (monthly)Check structural condition (annually)

Check sludge level and internal cleanliness (every two years or as required)

Check plumbing/piping is ully operational and well maintained (annually)

Replace lters (as per manuacturer’s advice or earlier i a decrease in water

fow is noticed)

Test chlorine level is at or above 0.5 mg/L (at least weekly or ater heavy rains)

Test pH level is 6.5–8.5 (weekly)

Check UV light is operating and ree rom scum (weekly)

Replace UV lamps every 12 months (or as per manuacturer’s instructions)

E. coli test* (initially to identiy risk, when the system is new or altered,or ater a signicant event such as heavy rainall)

Chemical test – (initially to identiy risk, when the system is new or altered,

or ater a signicant event)

Local councils require schools

with private water supplies to keep

records o system inspections and

test results or at least two years.

Use this list to help gather inormation

or the school’s records (note this list

is not exhaustive).

* Assess results against guideline values in the Australian drinking water guidelines. Note: To ensure the water supply system has not been

compromised over prolonged shut down periods, maintenance checks are recommended upon commencement o school term.



18

Test chlorine level is at or above 0.5 mg/L (weekly or ater heavy rains)

mg/L

mg/L

mg/L

mg/L

mg/L

mg/L

Test pH level is between 6.5 and 8.5

Check UV light is operating and ree o scum

Yes / No

Yes / No

Yes / No

Yes / No

Yes / No

Yes / No

Appendix 6: Checklist for inspecting

and maintaining a rainwater supply system

Inspection date

Treatment system

Inspection by Reading Corrective actions

Recommended weekly inspections: rainwater

Check access covers

Tank



19

Clean the spouting/gutters (three-monthly and ater storms)

Check inlet and outlet screens

Check strainer or debris

Check or the presence o mosquito larvae in tank water

Inspection date

Water catchment

Tank


Recommended three-monthly inspections: rainwater



20

Check and trim overhanging branches

Inspect and repair downpipes

Check condition o roo

Check structural condition

Check plumbing/piping is ully operational and well maintained

Replace UV lamps every 12 months or as per manuacturer’s instructions

E. coli test*

Chemical test*

Inspection date

Water catchment


Tank

Distribution system

Treatment system


Recommended annual inspections: rainwater

Recommended two-yearly inspections: rainwater

Inrequent inspections: rainwater

Check sludge level and internal cleanliness

Tank



Appendix 6: (continued)



21

Check access covers

Appendix 7: Checklist for inspecting and

maintaining a groundwater supply system

Inspection

date

Inspection by

Frequency

o inspection

Reading

Corrective actions

Recommended weekly inspections: groundwater

Test chlorine level is at or above 0.5 mg/L (weekly or ater heavy rains)

mg/L

mg/L

mg/L

mg/L

mg/L

mg/L

Test pH level is between 6.5 and 8.5

Check UV light is operating and ree o scum

Yes / No

Yes / No

Yes / No

Yes / No

Yes / No

Yes / No

Treatment system

Tank



22

Inspection

date

Inspection by

Frequency

o inspection

Reading

Corrective actions

Recommended monthly inspections: groundwater

Check the bore head and other mechanisms installed are watertight and protected rom surace fows

Check bore is protected such as enced or locked

Check maintenance and operation o the pump (continued next page)

Water source




23

Inspection

date

Inspection by

Frequency

o inspection

Reading

Corrective actions

Recommended monthly inspections: groundwater (continued)

Check maintenance and operation o the pump

Water source

Tank

Check inlet and outlet screens

Check strainer or debris

Check or the presence o mosquito larvae in tank water

Recommended three-monthly inspections: groundwater



24

Inspection

date

Inspection by

Frequency

o inspection

Reading

Corrective actions

Recommended annual inspections: groundwater

Check structural condition

Tank

Check plumbing/piping is ully operational and well maintained

Distribution system

Replace UV lamps (every 12 months or as per manuacturer’s instructions)

Treatment system (where applicable)

Check sludge level and internal cleanliness (every two years or as required)

Clean/replace lters

E. coli test*

Chemical test*

Tank

Treatment system


Recommended two-yearly inspections: groundwater

Inrequent inspections: groundwater






25

Appendix 8: Common ways

to treat a water supply

Filtration

Filters can remove particular

contaminants within the water.

Filtration can remove some sediment,

chemicals, algal toxins (which are

a specic type o chemical) and

microorganisms.

Filters are commonly installed with

the regular plumbing between theroo catchment area and the storage

tank. They are normally used in

combination with ultraviolet light

and/or chlorine disinection.

Some flters are more eective than

others. Consult a water treatment

specialist to help choose the fltration

method most appropriate

or the contaminants you need

to remove.

Disinection

Disinection is generally the last

step o water treatment and will

remove most disease-causing

microorganisms. It is important

to realise that disinection will not

remove chemical contaminants.

Ultraviolet light disinection

Ultraviolet (UV) light is a common and

eective orm o disinection, which

kills many kinds o microorganisms.

A UV disinection system can be

installed with the regular plumbing

beore the point o use (such as the

kitchen tap).

Filtration to remove sediment oten

needs to occur beore the water

reaches the UV disinection unit

because UV light cannot penetrate

dirty or ‘cloudy’ water. For best

results, UV disinection should be

used either at the point o use or

in combination with chlorination.UV disinection systems need to be

designed and installed by a water

treatment specialist.

Chlorine disinection

Chlorine is oten used to disinect

rainwater because it is accessible,

economical and can treat large

volumes o water with a residual

eect. Water can be chlorinated either

through an automatic dosing systemwithin your regular plumbing or

manually added to the tank.

It takes about 5 mg o chlorine per

litre o water to disinect the water

in the school’s tank. However, this

will depend on the quality o the

water. For eective disinection

there should still be at least 0.5 mg/L

present in the water 30 minutes ater

dosing the water.

The testing can be done with a

suitable chlorine test kit (such as

a swimming pool kit). I the

measured chlorine is below

0.5 mg/L, repeat chlorine dosing

until this level is reached.

How to treat water

stored in a tank

To work out how much chlorine

to add to the school’s tank or

disinection, rst calculate the

amount o water in the school’s tank.

Rectangular/square tanks

Volume (litres) = depth o water in tank

(metres) x tank width (metres) x tank

length (metres) x 1,000

Cylindrical tanks

Volume (litres) = depth o water in tank

(metres) x tank radius (metres) x tank

radius (metres) x 3,140

Radius: half the

diameter or width

of the tank (metres)

Water depth

(metres)

When handling and storing

chemical compounds, always

read and ollow saety directions

given on the package label



26

Determining the amount

o chlorine to add

First, the turbidity (cloudiness) o the

water should be below a measure

o 1 nephlometric turbidity unit.

Second, the pH o the water should

range rom 6.5 to 8.5. A water-testing

laboratory will be able to check the

turbidity o your water supply, while

you can test the pH yoursel witha swimming pool kit.

When the turbidity and pH is

satisactory, an initial dose o chlorine

less than 5 mg/L may be sucient

to achieve the desired 0.5 mg/L ater

30 minutes.

Chlorine is available in a number o

dierent orms. As a general guide,

you will need to add:

The ollowing table estimates the

amount o dierent preparations o

chlorine that should be added to

various volumes o water to provide

an initial concentration o 5 mg/L.

1,000 125 40 2

2,000 250 80 3

5,000 625 200 6

6,000 750 240 7

7,500 938 300 9

10,000 1,250 400 12

16,000 2,000 640 19

20,000 2,500 800 24

30,000 3,750 1,200 35

•125mLofliquidbleach(4per

cent available chlorine) or every

1,000 L o water in your tank

or

• 40mLofliquidsodium

hypochlorite (12.5 per cent

available chlorine) or every

1,000L o water in your tank

or

• 8g/2tspofgranularcalciumhypochlorite (65 per cent

available chlorine) or every

1,000 L o water in your tank.

Volume o

water in

tank (L)

4% liquid

bleach (mL)

12.5%

liquid sodium

hypochlorite (mL)

65% granular or

powdered calcium

hypochlorite

(teaspoon)

Amount o chlorine to add to achieve 5 mg/L in tank




27

Liquid household bleach can be

purchased at a supermarket or

hardware store. Check that the

product has at least 4 per cent

available chlorine and has no additives

such as ragrances or detergents.

Sodium hypochlorite and calcium

hypochlorite can be purchased

rom large supermarkets, hardware

stores or swimming pool suppliers.Stabilised chlorine (which contains

isocyanuric acid) is not eective in

enclosed tanks and should not be

used.

How to prepare chlorine

When adding the concentrated

chemical mixture to the tank, rst mix

the chlorine solution with cold water

in a plastic bucket in the open air,

then add to the tank and let it stand

or at least one hour (ideally 24 hours)

beore use.

Always add chlorine to water,

never water to chlorine and use

appropriate protective equipment

including gloves and goggles.

Always ollow the manuacturer’s

handling and storage instructions.

All chlorine products are required to

be replaced on a regular basis as

chlorine activity declines over time.

I you are uncertain about this

procedure, contact an environmental

health ofcer rom your local council

or the Department o Health’s

Environmental Health Unit or advice.

Maintenance

Filtration

You must regularly maintain and

replace lters or them to be eective.

I not, bacteria can grow on the lters

and then be released into the ltered

water. The manuacturer’s operating

and maintenance instructions must be

careully ollowed.

Chlorine disinection

At the point where the water is used

(such as at the kitchen sink), you need

to test the chlorine level weekly or

ater heavy rainall to check the level

o disinectant in the system. The level

o chlorine in the water needs to be at

least 0.5 mg/L.

When the water supply has not been

used or an extended period o time,

such as more than one week, you

should check the chlorine level and

fush the pipes or a ew minutes until

resh water fows through rom the

tank. Water fushed rom the system

is sae to use on the garden. Keep a

record o chlorine and pH readings.

Ultraviolet light disinection

Ultraviolet light disinection systems

need regular and careul maintenance

to ensure they remain eective by:

• providingareliablepowersupply

to the lamp

• maintainingorreplacingthelter

unit regularly or in accordance

with the manuacturer’s instructions

• checkingonaweeklybasisthat

the lamps are operating and ree

rom scum

• replacingthelampseverysix

months or in accordance with

the manuacturer’s instructions

• keepingarecordofinspections

and maintenance.



28

Carted water

Water carted in a tanker and used

to top up an onsite tank.

Groundwater

Groundwater includes water

rom bores, spear points (shallow

installations), springs or wells.

Hazard

A biological, chemical, physical

or radiological agent that has the

potential to cause harm.

Potable

Fit or suitable or drinking on the

basis o both health and aesthetic

considerations.

Private water supply

When reticulated (mains) drinking

water is not available, an alternativesource o water is required; this

alternative water supply is reerred

to as a private water supply.

Private drinking water supply

A private water supply that is used

or drinking.

Preventative measure

Any planned action, activity or

process that is used to preventhazards rom occurring or reduce

them to acceptable levels.

Rainwater

Water collected directly rom

run-o ater rain.

Risk

The likelihood o a hazard causing

harm in exposed populations in

a specied time rame, including

the magnitude o that harm.

Source water

Water in its natural state beore

any treatment.

Surace water

All water naturally open to the

atmosphere (such as rivers,

streams, lakes and reservoirs).

Glossary







Documents

Australia; A guide to completing a water supply management plan - for schools using private drinking water supplies - Victorian Government