A 100 per cent quality rating and a cost almost 1700 times cheaper than bottled competitors are “compelling reasons” to drink local tap water.
Managing director Joe Adamski backed Barwon Water’s product this week after announcing its top marks in an annual quality compliance report.
The authority achieved 100 per cent for various quality standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act 2003.
Mr Adamski said choosing between tap and bottled water was a “personal choice” but pointed out the merits of filling a glass rather than buying a bottle.
“Our region’s tap water is sourced from pristine catchments and meets all necessary standards for safety, quality and taste,” he said.
“Tap water represents much better value for money, with 1000 litres of tap water costing $2.25, which is about the same as many 600mL bottled varieties.
“It’s also more environmentally friendly than bottled water, with Australia recycling less than 50 per cent of PET plastic drink bottles. The rest are littered or land-filled.”
The compliance report also revealed fewer water quality complaints than in the previous year.
Barwon Water received 1.3 complaints per 1000 customers in 2014/2015, down from 1.6 in 2013/2014 and below the three-year average of 1.8. The greatest reduction was in taste and odour complaints.
Mr Adamski said supplying safe drinking water and protecting the region’s catchments were Barwon Water’s “highest priorities”.
“These results reflect the success of our rigorous monitoring programs, which include weekly, monthly and quarterly sampling across the entire supply network.”
Barwon Water encouraged residents to drink tap water through various sponsorship and education programs, Mr Adamski said.
Some of the initiatives included supplying re-fillable drink bottles to community groups, hospitality venues and students as well as operating “hydration stations” at public events.
The Annual Drinking Water Quality Report is available at barwonwater.vic.gov.au
