Possible water quality issues

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13966 posts

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#2662815 25-Feb-2021 21:58

Update; Watercare have checked my current address and advised the water should be fine to drink, however they did suggest the taste may be related to the levels of chlorine in the water. They asked for my previous address (where the water tasted absolutely fine) to do a comparison, so I've sent that through to see if their tests show anything different. Just waiting to hear back from them.

k1w1k1d

1527 posts

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#2662844 26-Feb-2021 06:28

Did they give any details of concentrations of minerals etc?

quickymart

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#2662926 26-Feb-2021 08:49

Not sure if this will format correctly, but here are their results from two nearby(-ish) addresses:

Sample Date Determinand Test Result Component Units Sample Batch Nu Sample Numb
4/01/21 Chlorine Residual 0.57 mg/L 210104-101 6167250
4/01/21 Escherichia coli 0.00 MPN/100 mL 210104-101 6167252
4/01/21 pH 7.90 pH unit 210104-101 6167251
4/01/21 Total coliforms 0.00 MPN/100 mL 210104-101 6167252
4/01/21 Turbidity 0.25 NTU 210104-101 6167251
3/02/21 Chlorine Residual 0.50 mg/L 210203-060 6242229
3/02/21 Escherichia coli 0.00 MPN/100 mL 210203-060 6242231
3/02/21 pH 8.00 pH unit 210203-060 6242230
3/02/21 Total coliforms 0.00 MPN/100 mL 210203-060 6242231
3/02/21 Turbidity 0.25 NTU 210203-060 6242230

3/01/21 Chlorine Residual 0.41 mg/L 210103-046 6165546
3/01/21 Escherichia coli 0.00 MPN/100 mL 210103-046 6165548
3/01/21 pH 7.80 pH unit 210103-046 6165547
3/01/21 Total coliforms 0.00 MPN/100 mL 210103-046 6165548
3/01/21 Turbidity 0.15 NTU 210103-046 6165547
2/02/21 Chlorine Residual 0.58 mg/L 210202-079 6238397
2/02/21 Escherichia coli 0.00 MPN/100 mL 210202-079 6238399
2/02/21 pH 7.90 pH unit 210202-079 6238398
2/02/21 Total coliforms 0.00 MPN/100 mL 210202-079 6238399
2/02/21 Turbidity 0.55 NTU 210202-079 6238398

Jase2985

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#2663144 26-Feb-2021 14:48

"Most people can sense (through taste or smell) a chlorine residual at 1 mg/l. The intensity of the chlorine taste and smell typically depends on the distance the public water source is from your household (i.e., the closer your house is to the water treatment plant, the stronger the chlorine taste)."

i would get a test done in your property and confirm what the issue is. then get the appropriate filter etc to combat that.

bfginger

1269 posts

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#2663268 27-Feb-2021 06:26

Poor quality plumbing is common in New Zealand so it could be leaching something after water has sat idle in the tap for a while.

quickymart:

Right, I've reached out to some water testing places and am waiting to hear back from them.

If it happens I end up needing to get a filter installed (an under-sink unit like my neighbours may be better), any picks off this page? There's a few to choose from.

https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/search?text=water%20filter&q=water%20filter

You don't need to buy it all from Mitre10.

0.5 micron filter with a prefilter. I've never found standard 1 micron filters to work very well by themselves. Subjectively filters don't work very well if you run the water through them too quickly.

I'm wary of floods from typical filter setups. I know of several people who have had their houses waterlogged and only narrowly avoided it myself. Another somehow flooded their house with an on-bench setup. So unless you kitchen has a floor drain don't go for the usual friction fit pipes but proper cartridge housing with fitted plumbed pipes that don't rely on being pushed into a hole and a prayer.

Water filter equipment is far more expensive here than overseas if you know what I mean.

MadEngineer

4292 posts

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#2663335 27-Feb-2021 13:25

Get a specialist filter installer to install one. They should then schedule regular filter replacements with you.

If there is indeed an issue with your water, be on the lookout for any signs of allergies. If your body is under stress dealing with something in the water it makes it harder to deal with reactions to things you’d otherwise be mostly fine with.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

quickymart

13966 posts

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#2666446 1-Mar-2021 19:54

Another update, Watercare have come back to me and said that up to where the water enters the complex appears to be testing fine (ie, safe to drink) so it must be something inside the complex.

I'll talk to the landlord/body corporate again and see what they can do, otherwise I may just have to bite the bullet and get a filter like my neighbour's.

As an aside, we've been drinking bottled water for the last few days, no issues whatsoever.

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Jase2985

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#2666448 1-Mar-2021 19:59

have you had your water tested inside your property?

quickymart

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#2666451 1-Mar-2021 20:02

It costs $200, which I simply can't afford, so no.

If I do that and need to buy a filter anyway, it will have cost me $400 to get this whole thing sorted out. I'll see if the landlord will come to the party first.

Jase2985

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#2666457 1-Mar-2021 20:20

getting a filter with out getting it tested will be pointless. you don't know what you need to filter out.

jonherries

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#2666503 1-Mar-2021 20:31

If you to go hardcore you could always get a water distiller - its not what I would use distillery equipment for....

Jon

quickymart

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#2666560 2-Mar-2021 07:41

Jase2985:

getting a filter with out getting it tested will be pointless. you don't know what you need to filter out.

I didn't say I wouldn't get it tested, I'm going to see if the landlord will come to the party and help before doing anything else.

gzt

17149 posts

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#2666954 2-Mar-2021 21:05

jonherries: If you to go hardcore you could always get a water distiller - its not what I would use distillery equipment for...

Personally I see this one as the worst choice in most cases, more so during summer.

Wellingtondave

159 posts

Master Geek

#2667038 2-Mar-2021 23:29

Boil your potable / drinking water (including water for bushing teeth etc) for a week and then see if you have tummy issues.

bfginger

1269 posts

Uber Geek

#2672384 12-Mar-2021 17:45

jonherries: If you to go hardcore you could always get a water distiller - its not what I would use distillery equipment for....

Jon

Drinking distilled water is not to be taken lightly. Distillers are slow, noisy, expensive, produce lots of heat and humidity and use lots of electricity. Water should be filtered before being distilled. Some contaminants distill so early transferred water needs to be refiltered or dumped. Heat from the water could make plastic water containers leach material. Super soft water acidifies when exposed to the air so it either needs to be sealed off from it or have a soluble agent added to maintain a higher pH. I know people add a little baking soda.

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