Drinking fountain water quality

Public drinking water fountains and taps may not get regular use and flushing. This allows water to become stagnant and stay in contact with plumbing fittings for long periods of time.

It is good practice before you drink to flush the fountain for at least 10 seconds. This is consistent with national guidance on reducing exposure to plumbing-related metals.

Certain heavy metals can be released from plumbing related sources and products. These can include antimony, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and nickel. It is important to limit exposure to these heavy metals through drinking water. This can easily be done by preventative flushing.

TasWater manage drinking water supplies, and are regulated by the Department of Health. They provide guidance to the City of Hobart in relation to monitoring of water quality. This follows the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

For information about households, visit the Department of Health website.

For information on the quality of your TasWater supply, visit the TasWater website.