RECYCLED WATER overview
Fluoride is added to Ballina Shire drinking water supply under strict standards prescribed by NSW Health. It is dosed into the water as part of the NSW Health dental program. NSW Health support water fluoridation as a safe and reliable way to prevent dental decay.
Our Water and Wastewater Section closely monitor fluoride dosing.
For more information contact NSW Health, who are the fluoride regulator and have a range of resources available.
This can be a problem in drinking and recycled water. It is a result of water sitting in hoses and chemicals leaching from the hose into the water.
When sprayed into a glass or onto the ground, the water can appear soapy and have a strange stale odour. This usually takes around 5-8 minutes of flushing to clear and is not a problem with the water quality.
To confirm, remove hose from the tap and carry out a similar test by trying to make foam into a glass directly from the tap. If the water is still foaming please contact Council’s Water and Wastewater Section.
This can occur with both drinking and recycled water and is a result of calcium and magnesium in the water, which is naturally occurring and is also known as ‘water hardness’.
The higher the levels of calcium and magnesium in the water the ‘harder’ it is to make soap suds and the more likely it is to leave a white residue.
Due to the slightly higher hardness of our recycled water, users might experience white scaling or deposits visible on glass or cars, if not dried with a cloth.
Noisy or banging pipework inside homes is related to the state of internal plumbing.
The problem has increased over recent years with the introduction of flick mixers in homes. The rapid turning off/on of water from these fixtures, along with air within the system, is the main culprit of water pipework noise in homes.
This is unlikely caused in Council’s larger water network. If you are concerned, we suggest you consult a plumber.
The most common cause of dirty laundry after washing is from poor washing machine maintenance, not poor water quality.
You can fix this by cleaning your washing machine regularly. Mold or greasy residue can buildup in your washing machine drum.
We suggest you clean the drum by running an empty washing cycle with a cupful of white vinegar or bleach instead of detergent (or look for products specially designed for this purpose).
Then, wipe out the drum and around the door seal with a clean, dry cloth.