The following results have prompted the design and installation of a settling filter tank improve the underground water quality.
Analysis
Units
Detection
Limits
Result
Test 1
Result
Duplicate
Recommended
Levels
Sodium
Na
mg/L
1
140
130
not stated
Potassium
K
mg/L
0.1
8.3
8.0
not stated
Calcium
Ca
mg/L
0.1
23
22
not stated
Aluminium
Al
µg/L
5
<5
<5
<30
Cadmium
Cd
µg/L
1
<1
<1
<0.8
Chromium
Cr
µg/L
1
<1
<1
<20
Copper
Cu
µg/L
5
<5
<5
<5
Iron
Fe
µg/L
10
4800
4700
<10
Manganese
Mn
µg/L
1
11000
11000
<10
Zinc
Zn
µg/L
5
96
94
<5
Arsenic
As
µg/L
1
<1
<1
<50
Lead
Pb
µg/L
1
<1
<1
<2
The recommended levels are taken from “Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality” published by Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand 2000
Recommendations:
The water analysed met the Guidelines for Aquaculture of fresh water species with the exception of Iron and Zinc
The Zinc level is well above the guideline value of < 5 µg/l. In contrast the Australian Drinking Water Guideline for Zinc is 3000µg/l.
The Manganese level of 11000µg/l is significantly above the levels quoted in the Guidelines. This Manganese level is significantly higher than those usually encountered in ground and surface waters in the South West. The Australian Drinking Water Guideline for Manganese is 100µg/l. The notes relating to Manganese from the Guidelines states that some references considered a range between 100 and 8000 µg/l was acceptable for fresh water fish. Another source recommended <5000 µg/l for a fish hatchery.
The Iron level at 4750µg/l is well above the quoted guideline of 100µg/l. The Guideline notes have one reference quoting < 2000 µg/l Total Iron, but all other references are much lower.
