Merriwa Water Supply Testing Update

Published on 03 December 2024

Upper Hunter Shire Council is pleased to announce that recent radionuclide testing confirms that Merriwa's water remains safe to drink. The testing, conducted by Australia’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), shows that the water has a radioactivity dose ranging between <0.2 and <0.34 mSv/year. This range is well below the Australian national reference level of 1 mSv/year. 

The results were received late last week and have since been reviewed and verified by Council, NSW Health, and Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water (DCCEEW) Following a meeting with key stakeholders yesterday, Council is pleased to share this update to the community.

The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) screening value has been set to prioritise public health. These results confirm that the Merriwa drinking water supply is below the screening value . Upper Hunter Shire will continue to collaborate with the relevant agencies to ensure the safety of the community's drinking water.

Council will continue to monitor the drinking water in line with ADWG and NSW Health recommendations to verify the safety and quality of the water supply.