Water Quality FAQs

Here you’ll find answers to common questions about the safety, treatment, and standards of our water supply. Whether you’re curious about how we ensure clean drinking water, the processes involved in water purification, or the measures we take to protect our water sources, this section is designed to provide you with clear and concise information.

Do we test for Naegleria fowleri? ]

Naegleria fowleri is a microscopic, free-living amoeba commonly found in warm freshwater and soil known to cause primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Infection occurs when water containing the amoeba enters the body through the nose, which can happen during activities like swimming, playing in unchlorinated water, using such water in sprinklers or hoses, or for nasal cleansing.

According to the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG): 

  • N. fowleri is typically found in waters continuously warmer than 25°C or seasonally warmer than 30°C, as it is thermophilic. 
  • a free chlorine residual of 0.5 mg/L or higher will control N. fowleri, provided the disinfectant residual is maintained throughout the water supply system at all times.

Icon Water adheres to rigorous water treatment and monitoring protocols to ensure the safety and quality of the water supply, effectively reducing the risk of harmful pathogens like Naegleria fowleri. Canberra’s tap water remains significantly cooler than the temperatures needed for N. fowleri to thrive. Additionally, our raw water storages do not consistently exceed 25°C or seasonally surpass 30°C, conditions that are unfavourable for its growth. Furthermore, Icon Water maintains a free chlorine residual throughout the network and routinely monitors E. coli, Total coliforms and Heterotrophic plate count as indicators of pathogen presence.

This information is available in our Annual Drinking Water Quality Report under the analytes “Temperature” and “Chlorine free”.