Copper Alliance HSDG Australia

Water Supplies
Australia's cities face significant water challenges into the future.
This chapter broadly describes the water
supplies and provides the designer with
some basic information that will assist in
making their buildings more water efficient.
It is not intended to cover all aspects of
different water supplies available.
There are many types of water supplies,
which include traditional and alternative
sources in particular to those services for
residential, commercial and industrial type
of buildings.
Australia’s cities face significant water
challenges into the future due to the
combination of rapidly growing populations,
increasingly unreliable rainfall patterns and
our ability to adjust to climatic uncertainty.
From these challenges government and
industry have developed programs and
systems to conserve water used within
buildings
The most common water supplies that feed
plumbing systems may include:
• Towns Mains Supply – water utility supply.
• Towns Mains Recycled Supply – water
utility supply.
• Desalinated / blended supply.
• Black and grey water treated reuse.
• Rainwater harvesting.
• Raw water - lakes, rivers and bore water.
The designers and installers when using
alternate water supplies must assess the
risks that are present.
These risks may include cross connection
of non-drinking water with drinking water
resulting in health risks, failure of supply
and water quality.
Water Quality
The quality of drinking water supplies is
outlined in the Water Services Association
Australia – Drinking Water Guideline.
Regional water agencies provide detailed
information on their water supply quality.
The following extract and link will assist
designers to appreciate those elements of
a fit for purpose water supply.
“The ADWG are not mandatory standards;
however, they provide a basis for determining
the quality of water to be supplied to
consumers in all parts of Australia.
These determinations need to consider the
diverse array of regional or local factors,
and take into account economic, political
and cultural issues, including customer
expectations and willingness and ability to pay.
The ADWG are intended for use by the
Australian community and all agencies with
responsibilities associated with the supply of
drinking water, including catchment and water
resource managers, drinking water suppliers,
water regulators and health authorities”.
www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/
australian-drinking-water-guidelines
Hydraulic Services Design Guide - 5 th Edition March 2022
Chapter Five
34
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