Welcome to the Hunter Water Website

Water Quality


Q: How is the water treated?

We apply a ‘multiple barrier’ approach to protecting water quality, where water is:

  • protected within the catchment
  • treated using coagulation and filtration to remove impurities
  • disinfected to protect against microbiological contaminants
  • transported and stored within a closed, well maintained distribution system
  • routinely sampled & analysed for compliance

Click here to download our Multiple Barrier Approach fact sheet.

Did this answer your question?  Top

Q: What level of chlorine is in drinking water supplied by Hunter Water?

The concentration of chlorine in drinking water supplied by us ranges from 0 to about 1.2 mg/L. This is within the recommendations of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. Based on health considerations, the guideline for chlorine is that the chlorine residual should be less than 5 mg/L.

Click here to download our Chlorine fact sheet.

Did this answer your question?  Top

Q: Why add chlorine to drinking water?

Water is disinfected before it enters the system to ensure that any disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and parasites are destroyed.

Chlorine is used because it is a very effective disinfectant, and a residual concentration can be maintained to guard against biological contamination in the water distribution system.

Click here to download our Chlorine fact sheet.

Did this answer your question?  Top

Q: Why add fluoride to drinking water?

Fluoride in water helps prevent tooth decay. It is particularly effective in protecting children’s teeth while they are forming and helps reduce dental decay in adult teeth.

Click here to download the Fluoride fact sheet.

Did this answer your question?  Top

Q: What level of fluoride is in drinking water supplied by Hunter Water?

The typical concentration of fluoride in drinking water supplied by us is one milligram per litre. This is within the recommendations of the National Health and medical Research Council (NHMRC) Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. The dosing range used by us is specified in regulations produced by NSW Department of Health.

Click here to download our Flouride fact sheet.

Did this answer your question?  Top

Q: Why add alum to drinking water?

Alum is used at our water treatment plants to remove sediment from drinking water.  It is used in almost all NSW country towns and by all other major Australian water authorities. 

It is also used extensively overseas. The level of aluminium in our drinking water is usually less after treatment than the natural level in the untreated (raw) water.

Click here to download our Alum fact sheet.

Did this answer your question?  Top