8 May 2001

The Community Consultant
Underwood Management Group
PO Box 19
Yarrambat 3091

Dear Madam

WATER QUALITY
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS WATER FOREST HILL SYSTEM

In September 1999 Central Highlands Water switched over the reticulated domestic water supply for the townships of Allendale, Broomfield, Kingston, Newlyn, Smeaton and Springmount from the Newlyn Reservoir to groundwater drawn from Forest Hill.

Consumers voted for the water from Forest Hill because of its aesthetically pleasing colour, unlike the turbid water that was often supplied from the Newlyn Reservoir. However, because the groundwater from Forest Hill is very hard and has a high salt content, problems are now emerging.

Known and reported problems to date are:

• Extensive corrosion and scaling - of heating elements in hot water services, jugs, kettles, irons, urns, cappuccino machines, washing machines and dishwashers etc.
• Dripping taps - corrosion and/or sediment buildup of tap washers.
• Shower Roses – getting blocked and/or corroding off.
• Build-up of salts - around taps, inlet & outlet pipes, shower walls and screens.
• Soaps & detergents - don’t lather effectively. Can also cause “tide marks” on basins, sinks, baths and toilets. The minerals form soap curds that are difficult to clean.
• Skin and eye problems – Itching and dryness due to contact with water. The soap scum remains on your skin even after rinsing, clogging the pores of your skin and coating every hair on your body. This crud can serve as a home for bacteria, causing nappy rash, minor skin irritation and skin that continually itches.
• Hair – Tangles your hair and leaves it dull, lifeless and less manageable.
• Dental Tartar – The key ingredient in tartar, the predominate force that encapsulates food, bacteria and saliva into a hardened mass on teeth is calcium carbonate, the same substance which is causing our scale damage.
• White film or spotting - is left on glassware, crockery, cutlery and automobiles after washing.
• Health problems – can be caused for people on salt limited diets.

In the Information Update issued by Central Highlands Water, one week before supply commenced in September 1999, under the heading: What will the new clean water cost me? . . . it was claimed: "There is no additional cost to you at all!" However,

• CHW recommends more expensive anodes and heating elements.
• When scale collects on heating elements it shortens their life. Makes appliances less efficient which leads to increased electricity bills by up to 40% or more!
• Increased replacement of appliances, etc.
• Hard water also influences fabric life and fading. Fabrics washed in hard water tend to wear out up to 15% quicker than fabrics washed in soft water. When doing laundry in hard water, soap curds lodge in fabric during washing to make fabrics stiff and rough. Incomplete soil removal from laundry causes greying of white fabrics and the loss brightness in colours. A sour odour can develop in clothes. Continuous laundering in hard water shortens the life of clothes.
• More money is spent on soaps and detergents because hard water reduces cleaning power and if water softeners are used (as recommended by CHW) it adds to the cost burden.

To overcome the problems caused by the groundwater, the Newlyn Reservoir Action Group strongly recommends a return to the Newlyn Reservoir as the source for the district water supply together with the installation of an adequate water treatment system.

In the ‘Discussion Paper Outlining Water Supply Options’ for the Clunes town water supply (May 2000), the following four options were presented to the ratepayers and residents of Clunes:

• Newlyn Reservoir Supply (Water Treatment Plant at Newlyn) – initial capital cost: $6,068,000.
• Newlyn Reservoir Supply (Water Treatment Plant at Clunes) - initial capital cost: $3,436,000.
• Groundwater Supply - initial capital cost: $3,273,000.
• White Swan through Creswick Supply – initial capital cost: $5,640,000.

Central Highlands Water indicated it would fund initial capital costs of $3,273,000 for the proposed Clunes groundwater supply. If a water treatment plant is installed at Newlyn, water from the Newlyn Reservoir can be used to supply not only Clunes, but also Allendale, Broomfield, Kingston, Newlyn, Smeaton and Springmount.

The Victorian government should be asked to fund the shortfall of $2,795,00 between the cost ($6,068,000) and the amount CHW is prepared to fund ($3,273,000).

We have already made a verbal request to The Hon Sherryl Garbutt MP, Minister for Environment and Conservation, for an amount of $3,000,000 to fund the shortfall.