Water supply

Information for Queensland public housing tenants.

Water is an important natural resource and should be used with care and consideration for our environment and your health.

Bacteria in the water supply

Drinking water is treated to make it safe but bacteria can still be present at very low levels. Bacteria can become a problem if it’s allowed to multiply to levels that cause illness.

Bacteria may multiply in your home's water system including:

• the hot water system
• water lines, taps and outlets that are seldom used.

Warning stickers

We stick a warning sticker on electric hot water systems during inspections to your property.  The sticker has information about how to stop dangerous levels of bacteria multiplying in the hot water system.

We don’t put stickers in homes with gas hot water systems. Gas hot water systems are hard to adjust and most people don’t touch the temperature control which can affect the levels of bacteria.

Preventing bacteria

• Do not adjust your hot water system. Hot water systems are designed to operate without any adjustment. The temperature is preset by the manufacturer and should not be turned down except by a qualified tradesperson. The system should stay on at all times to keep the water hot enough to kill bacteria.
• If you are worried the temperature will be too hot talk to your nearest Housing Service Centre. We can install tempering valves to all bathroom outlets and some extra outlets (for example, your kitchen sink) to ensure the temperature of hot water does not exceed 50 degrees Celsius. By law, tempering valves must be fitted during bathroom upgrades or major replacement of water devices, to reduce the risk of scalding.
• Turn your taps or water outlets (inside and outside your home) on at least once every 2 months. Let the water flow through to clean out any still water that may have been in the pipe. If you only have cold water connected to your washing machine try turning the hot water on and catching the water in a bucket until it is half-full.
• Do not turn your hot water system off to save electricity unless you are going away for an extended length of time (for example, 3 months). When you get back, make sure your hot water unit has reached its full temperature before using the hot water.