Rural Water Supplies

Rural water supplies

Consider the rural household water supply system you will be using.

The majority of rural households are dependant on providing there own private water supply for drinking purposes and domestic use. To provide for this most use roof catchment for the collection of rainwater and some opt for a ground abstraction source such as bore water or a spring.

Some of these supplies have limited treatment facilities to ensure the water is safe to drink and unfortunately substandard supplies can become polluted with human and animal excreta. A substandard water supply is undesirable and dangerous to use.

Consider water storage and water treatment

Some water supplies have insufficient storage capacity which can result in the property owner having to buy water during the dry periods and this could be costly. It is therefore important that a water supply storage system is also adequate to met all domestic requirements and demands.

A water supply system for a rural property should be treated and maintained to a good quality standard and provide a sufficient quantity of water to meet the requirements of 300 to 375 litres per person per day. Treatment devices (point of use devices) include on line filters, back flow prevention units, and disinfecting/sterilisation units.

Household Water Supply Evaluations

The inspection will involve an evaluation of all components that form part of:

The water collection system
The pipe delivery system
The tank storage facility
Treatment facilities

The report will contain recommendations on adequacy and the protection and treatment methods that can be used to ensure an adequate and safe drinking water supply is maintained for the household occupiers.

Water supply samples taken for bacteriological and chemical testing are submitted to an approved laboratory for analysis. Analytical results are then discussed with the client.

Did you know?

A household water supply system that lacks proper treatment devices to ensure the supply is biologically and chemically safe could pose a risk of illness to the consumer from biological and gaseous contaminants.

Biological contaminants can be described as unwanted living organisms which includes bacteria, viruses, protozoa and worms!

Water bugs can cause severe illness

Campylobacter, Salmonellosis, Diarrhoea, Hepatitis A, Cryptosporidiosis, Giardia, and Gastroenteritis, are some of the water borne bugs that can cause unpleasant and serious illness from drinking contaminated water.

Unwanted algae in a water supply can also cause discoloration, taste and odour problems.

Rodents and birds that gain access to a household water supply system can foul the water and contribute to human illness.

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