Quality of Potable Water at Australian Antarctic and Subantarctic Stations

2025-09-24The State of the Environment applications are no longer actively supported. Data collected under this program are archived as part of this metadata record - these are the "Pre-2023" data. The "Post-2023" data were recorded under a new paradigm.Data are collected by doctors on station and entered into a specialised database. Extracts of that database are made annually and added to this metadata record.#####STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT DETAILSINDICATOR DEFINITIONPotable water quality measured monthly at Australian Antarctic and Subantarctic Stations.TYPE OF INDICATORThere are three types of indicators used in this report:1.Describes the CONDITION of important elements of a system;2.Show the extent of the major PRESSURES exerted on a system;3.Determine RESPONSES to either condition or changes in the condition of a system.This indicator is one of: CONDITIONRATIONALE FOR INDICATOR SELECTIONPotable water quality is an indicator of natural environmental water quality. Any contamination may be from either natural or human impacts, but analysis provides a useful indicator for further examination of causes, and a long term record of natural water quality around human settlements.DESIGN AND STRATEGY FOR INDICATOR MONITORING PROGRAMWater is obtained from a number of sources dependent upon the station: from desalination plants, melt bells, natural melt lakes and natural streams.Potable water quality is measured monthly at storage water tanks and various tap outlets around stations - mostly at the main living, sleeping and medical quarters.Spatial Scale: Australian Antarctic stations: Australian Antarctic continental stations and Macquarie Island station.Frequency: MonthlyMeasurement Technique: Test is conducted by either the Station Medical Officer or the Station Plumber for the following parameters: pH, conductivity, turbidity and faecal coliforms (E coli).RESEARCH ISSUESTesting is used primarily to determine health of potable water for consumption. However testing may show either natural or human impacts in the natural catchments of water sources. Test results that show unusual contaminant levels leads to investigation of causes, whether in the station infrastructure or natural water catchments.LINKS TO OTHER INDICATORSSOE Indicator 48 - Station and ship person daysSOE Indicator 50 - Volume of wastewater discharged from Australian Antarctic StationsSOE Indicator 51 - Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) of wastewater discharged from Australian Antarctic StationsSOE Indicator 52 - Suspended solids (SS) content of wastewater discharged from Australian Antarctic Stations