Water Quality Monitoring Program
Icon Water conducts a continual and comprehensive water quality monitoring program across its supply system, including the distribution system. Each month, customer tap sites selected from a random database are sampled and analysed for a variety of parameters to verify water quality across the network and monitor trends.
We are required to analyse samples from across the network in order to comply with recommendations in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (2011) and the Drinking Water Code of Practice (2007).The collected information enables us to monitor and manage water quality within the system.
We invite owners of properties with a suitable front garden tap to participate in the Program. Participation is entirely voluntary - there are no consequences if you elect not to participate. You can opt out at any time by notifying us.
Your property may be suitable if your front garden tap is:
- easily accessible and clear of bushes and other obstructions
- not serviced by a rainwater tank
- not in the immediate vicinity of pets, such as dogs
- not attached to an irrigation system or equipment that can’t be easily detached.
If you are willing to participate in the program, we’ll visit your property to verify whether the location and site conditions are suitable for the program.
If you own a property that is tenanted, you may participate; however, you must inform your tenant and ensure that they are willing to allow the property to be included within the Program. If you are a tenant, please note that only the owner of the property may consent to participation.
Your involvement is minimal. An Icon Water contractor will visit your premises 2 to 3 times per year, temporarily detach any tap fittings, run your front garden tap for about three minutes and then take samples. The contractor will leave your tap fittings as they found them. You are not required to be at home at the time of sampling and due to the random nature of the sampling process, we are unable to notify you ahead of time. The Icon Water contractor will leave a calling card acknowledging their visit. The entire process should take no more than a few minutes.
Icon Water's contractor, ALS Global (ALS), conducts the testing on behalf of the organisation. All Icon Water contractors, including ALS, are required to carry photo ID and you have a right to ask for their ID before they access your premises.
If there is a change of conditions on your property, for example renovations affecting access to the front garden tap, please let us know as soon as possible.
The results of individual samples taken at properties are not reported to Program participants. However, de-identified collated results are made publicly available within the Icon Water Annual Drinking Water Quality Report each October.
The volume of water required for sampling and subsequent laboratory analysis is minimal (i.e. less than $2 per year) and participation in this program is voluntary. Your involvement in the program is greatly appreciated by Icon Water and helps contribute to the ongoing delivery of high quality drinking water to Canberra.
