Providing safe water for campers

Bore water is generally the safest water source, especially if your bore is over 30 metres deep from the surface to the top of the uppermost stone-filtering screen. 
 
Contamination can happen in deeper bores and it’s important to be vigilant. Check with your regional council to learn about the depth of your bore.  

Risks to ground water 

A poorly covered or maintained bore could lead to contamination entering the water you’re collecting. 

Farm animals nearby could disturb infrastructure protecting the bore and let contaminants in.   
If the top of the bore is covered by flood water, it’s possible for silt, soil and harmful microscopic bugs to seep in.

Because water is coming from underground, bores can be contaminated by nearby activities and infrastructure including sewage disposal fields, effluent discharge, underground storage tanks, waste ponds, landfills, offal pits and pesticides.

How to prevent contamination 

• Make sure the bore is sealed, with no holes where contamination could enter through rainwater or surface water. You can concrete around the bore to protect it.
• Keep animals at least five metres away from bore infrastructure like pumps, covers and casing.  
• Be aware of how land around your source water is used and any risks connected with activities or infrastructure.  
• Use an effective treatment system with filtration and UV light.  

Roof water is exposed to risks.  

Risks to roof water 

• Poo from animals like birds or possums could be washed off the roof and into storage tanks when it rains.
• A bird, mouse or other small animal could get into a storage tank if it isn’t secured and kept in good condition.  
• Tennis balls or similar on the roof can block downpipes and interrupt water supply.  
• Wind can carry contaminants onto the roof.
• Sediment building up at the bottom of a tank could contain harmful microscopic bugs.    

How to prevent contamination 

• Keep your roof clean.  
• Stop birds and animals from accessing the roof or getting into tanks. This could include cutting back any overhanging branches.  
• Check and clean tanks.  
• Use an effective treatment system with filtration and UV light. 

Surface water is exposed to risks and needs to be monitored.  

Risks to surface water 

• Farming nearby could mean poo from animals makes its way into water.
• People swimming or boating upstream of the water intake could wee or poo, dump waste or disturb silt.  
• Heavy rain could wash poo and soil into waterways and cause cloudiness from disturbed dirt, called turbidity. If water is too turbid, filters and UV treatment can’t do their jobs properly.
• Logging or land clearing could cause soil to slip into water, increasing turbidity.
• Pipes carrying wastewater or stormwater could introduce contamination.   

How to prevent contamination 

• Check your water source and surrounding areas often and keep an eye out for any changes that might bring risk.
• Use an effective treatment system with filtration and UV light.
• Make sure your treatment system is equipped to manage turbidity. 

Filters catch dirt and debris so it can’t get into drinking water 

Source water (e.g. from a lake, river, stream, bore, roof) passes through filters to remove dirt, debris, and larger bugs. This is an important step because UV light disinfection can only work if water is clear enough for light to reach smaller contaminants. 

Recommended filters for campgrounds and campsites 

It’s best to use at least one cartridge filter with a pore size of five microns or less.   

Keep filters working 

• Check your filters every month and after weather events like floods, storms, fires and high winds.
• Replace filters if the centre is starting to look dirty or you notice a drop in water pressure.
• If you find your cartridge filter needs changing more than once a month, you might need to install extra filters.  

UV light kills or neutralises harmful bugs and viruses 

Water moves through UV light to kill microscopic bugs like viruses, protozoa, and bacteria including E. coli, salmonella, giardia and cryptosporidium.

Recommended UV units for campgrounds and campsites

Effective UV treatment requires a specific balance between the intensity of light and the speed of water flowing through the unit.  

The UV system should:  

• deliver a minimum reduction equivalent dose of 40mJ/cm2  
• restrict or monitor the flow of water through UV treatment so it meets the manufacturer’s recommended flow rate.

A plumber can install a flow restrictor to help your system achieve the right flow rate. 
  
If your treatment system supplies water to the public, you must use a UV system that has been validated or certified to international standards.    

Keep UV light working  

• Check lamps once a year and replace them before they expire. Most systems have a counter that will tell you when replacement is due.
• Check lamp sleeves at least once a year, and more frequently if your water is high in minerals. If there is any build-up, clean it away with a damp cloth. A non-abrasive cleaner can be used for stubborn build-up.
• Replace the lamp sleeve if it is damaged.  

Backflow prevention is a device to stop contaminated water flowing into treated water 

Backflow prevention is important for water supplies where treated drinking water is distributed for other purposes, e.g. filling stock troughs. 

There are two main types of backflow prevention. 

• Air gap. If you have a water storage tank, an air gap uses gravity to make sure contaminated water can’t make its way back into a drinking water supply.
• Valve. A dual-check valve is installed as a connection between pipes. The valve has physical barriers to stop water moving backwards. 

Keep backflow prevention working 

• For air gap backflow prevention, check at least once a year to make sure the overflow outlet isn’t blocked or obstructed.  
• Dual-check valves should be replaced every five years.  

Chlorine helps to keep treated water safe when it moves through pipes 

If water will be distributed to others after filtration and UV treatment, a very small amount of chlorine protects against any bacteria that could enter through damaged or worn pipes. 

Recommended chlorine dosing for campgrounds and campsites  

Do not use bleach that is scented, coloured or foaming.  

The dosage depends on the concentration of chlorine in the bleach you use, whether you use a storage tank, the size of your tank and how full the tank is.

See Household Water Supplies (page 34) for more dosage information. outbound

Keep chlorine working 

• Test twice a week with a dipstick or meter.
• If chlorine is a normal part of your water treatment, an unexpected drop in chlorine levels in drinking water could indicate there is contamination coming from a local source. Investigate what might be causing this and increase chlorine dosing to manage the risk. 

Tanks are used to store water before or after it is treated 

Many drinking water supplies use tanks to store water. They are usually made of concrete or plastic. Keeping them in good condition is important to prevent contamination and leaks.  

Keep storage working 

• Keep tanks clean. It’s best to clean your tank once a year.
• If your drinking water supply is contaminated, it’s important to flush all water out of your tank and disinfect it after you resolve the issue. This prevents any contaminated water making its way through the tap.    

Pipes carry water from source, to treatment, to taps 

Drinking water pipes are usually made of plastic. Some older pipes might be copper or even lead. Pipes are sometimes called distribution or reticulation. They are a crucial part of delivering safe water because contamination can enter through damaged or worn pipes. 

Keep pipes working 

• Know where your pipes are. If you didn’t map your pipes when they were installed, it’s good to record any pipe locations you become aware of. GPS smartphone apps can be useful.  
• Install signs to prevent damage through digging.
• Check the pipeline once a year, ideally in summer when ground is dry. Fresh or healthy grass growth in an otherwise dry area can indicate a leaking pipe.