Launch of
an Overview of the 1996 Australian Drinking Water Guidelines
11 May 2000
At the recent Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia
(NSW Division) Annual Conference held in Penrith 1-3 May
2000 the Water Directorate's Overview of the 1996 Australian
Drinking Water Guidelines was launched.
The Overview was prepared following the identification of
the implementation of the 1996 Australian Drinking Water
Guidelines (ADWG) as a high priority issue. The Water Directorate
Executive Committee resolved to develop a single document
detailing the main issues and obligations. The objectives
of the document were to:
Provide a concise summary of the ADWG that can be easily
understood by water supply authorities and allow them to
quickly ascertain their level of compliance with the guidelines.
Provide indicative cost implications for councils.
Assist water supply authorities with due diligence assessments.
Provide a comparison with the 1987 Guidelines for Drinking
Water Quality of Australia.
I would like to thank the subcommittee who oversaw the management
and completion of this high priority action. They have done
an excellent job. I believe the Overview is a very good example
of the technical advice that the Water Directorate can provide
to local government water and sewerage operators.
All member councils have been recently been sent a copy
of the Overview. Other organisations and local government
practitioners are welcome to purchase a copy from the Water
Directorate.
