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A significant number of member B&B and Farmstay operators do not have the "advantage" of being connected to a town water supply; they may well find that a visit from the Local Area Service (NSW Health) or the local council's Environmental Health Officer (EHO) would be a matter of some concern.
The interest in rain water (and other sources of water other than town water) by "the authorities" derives from some recent quite public instances of contaminated water supply. It ignores the "contamination" of town water supply with such goodies as chlorine and fluorine as much as it ignores the comments operators receive from guests about the "quality of the water" as being very much a part of their country experience.
Notwithstanding this, the bottom line for B&B and Farmstay operators dependent on rain water supply is that, in general, there is a new raft of requirements for us despite the adage we have relied on - with some strong "official" support that "provided the rainwater is clear, has little taste or smell and is from a well maintained catchment area, it is probably safe and unlikely to cause any illness for most users."
The chief "official" concern with water supplies is the potential contamination from microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and parasites, and more rarely a number of heavy metal contaminants. The local Area Health Service has general responsibilities to the public to ensure that water supplied to guests in B&Bs and Farmstays is clean and that guests may use the water provided without any concern for their health. A list of Public Health Units is provided for your reference. It is also worth noting that your local council's EHO has a power of entry without notice in relation to a wide range of food and drinking water aspects of your business.
A Water Management Plan
There is a general requirement that rain water and other non-centrally provided supplies such as bore, river and dam water should be accounted for in a water management plan for the property.
This plan should cover such things as:
the source of the water the way it is reticulated into the property labelling (warnings) on any taps and outlets that do not provide potable water any contingencies that may be necessary for a break in power supply; the method of treatment if appropriate; if filters are installed, a procedure that indicates the frequency of renewal and/or replacement of elements of the filter; a testing regime to ensure a continuous supply of potable water accompanied by a record of the results of the tests taken; and any other unique features of the water supply
Testing
Basic testing is for turbidity, pH, e-coli, and coliforms although other tests may be necessary in special circumstances. If a disinfectant is used to treat the water, tests for disinfectant residual are required also. Generally the "looks clean, smells clean, tastes clean" test is a good first indicator. If, on the other hand, your drinking water is "suspect" in any way, it is a good idea (compulsory even) to undertake these tests on a regular monthly basis until the tests remain clear for several months and then test rather less often.
A comprehensive chemical test may also be necessary in some circumstances. This would include pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), antimony, arsenic, barium, boron, cadmium, chromium, copper, cyanide, fluoride, iodide, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, silver, sodium and sulphate.
The cost of testing is not slight as a regular outgoing at around $100 for the four separate tests. It is possible, however, to purchase testing equipment and this may well be a long-term saving particularly if the testing regime is quite frequent because of the particular nature of the water supply. Self testing also means that any remedial action can be effected without delay.
Testing may be reduced particularly when on-line sludge and UV filters are installed and/or there filter devices are placed on the water supply lines. Quality of the catchment system may also play a part. Care should be taken to follow manufacturers instructions with regard to replacement of filter parts and ongoing maintenance.
This article has been prepared as a "head up" alert for those members not now undertaking some form of "risk management" based on their own situation. Full information of the requirements together with a full analysis of the entire system is available on line at www.health.nsw.gov.au/public-health/ehb/water/rainwater.html. There you will find a summary paper by NSW Health, RainWater Tanks as a useful introduction to the subject. A further more elaborate study Guidance on the Use of Rain Water Tanks prepared by the National Environmental Health Forum and endorsed by NSW Health covers every aspect of safe use.
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