Water quality and pressure

Council undertakes testing for water quality and pressure.

Water quality

Mackay’s potable water supply is sourced predominately from Dumbleton Weir, from the Pioneer River, which is fed from the Teemburra Dam. The rest of the supply is bore water sourced from the natural aquifer at several sites throughout the region.

The raw water from Teemburra Dam is of good quality and the natural aquifer produces water that is low in contaminants and dissolved minerals. This ensures that the finished potable supply has consistent quality and taste.

Council's Scientific and Analytical Services does quality control testing of the potable supply and raw water sources to ensure that water meets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

Scientific and Analytical Services tests the potable water supply to ensure a quality product to consumers. Scientific and Analytical Services has a modern well-equipped analytical laboratory that has the ability to analyse most parameters in-house.

For the potable supply, it tests at sample sites located across the city and analyses for a range of parameters:

• Physical/ chemical parameters such as pH, free and total chlorine, colour, turbidity and dissolved oxygen
• Microbiological testing such as e-coil, and total coliforms
• Metals such as aluminium, iron, manganese, sodium, calcium and potassium
• Heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury and selenium
• Other parameters such as pesticides and trihalomethanes

Occasionally, drinking water may have a slight brown tinge to it. This is largely due to elevated concentrations of iron and manganese. There is no cause for alarm as the water is still perfectly safe to drink. If any residents are still concerned, they should contact council.  For more information download the Water Quality Fact Sheet (PDF 1.81 MB).

Water pressure

• Flow and Pressure Test Application Form (PDF 56.8 kb)