Solutions for Unpalatable Drinking water: Monitoring and Treatment Approaches in Western Australian Indigenous Communities

Rosemary Atkinson

Australia formally committed to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) number six, ‘clean water and sanitation for all’. Despite this commitment, Western Australian (WA) Homelands Indigenous Communities receive substandard water quality and service provision. Communities experience unpalatable water with detrimental health ramifications, contributing to a life expectancy gap of 14 years. This study applied Human Centred Design (HCD) for water monitoring and treatment approaches to develop a way toward palatable water for Communities. Over 15,000 Indigenous Western Australians living in Communities do not have access to the quality of water that most Australians take for granted. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) served as the proxy for water palatability. This study investigates three monitoring approaches: 1) Transporting samples to a Perth laboratory (the current model). 2) On-site handheld TDS meters 3) On-site Internet of Things (IoT) real-time monitoring, termed as the: 1) Laboratory model. 2) Handheld meter model. 3) IoT model. Additionally Reverse Osmosis (RO) treatment approaches were explored across three scales: 1) Small-scale treatment of kitchen water 2) Full-scale treatment for all Community water 3) Medium-scale with auto-blending for all Community water These technologies were evaluated based on their suitability to serve Indigenous Communities’ social, economic, and geographic requirements, focusing on low-cost outcomes that facilitate ongoing Community agency. This study employed a HCD approach, coupled with Multiple Criteria Analyses (MCA) in Microsoft Excel. A HCD Implementation Plan was developed for the monitoring option, and a Techno-Economic analysis undertaken for treatment approaches. Collation of water services data occurred from Community representatives, water industry, and environmental health academics. Data analysis used the above methods and literature review. Findings then informed recommendations of an appropriate monitoring and treatment option. The IoT model as the best monitoring solution and the auto-blending approach for best treatment solution. Common to both are the low cost and ease of Community agency as they enable, the equipment labour to be performed by the Community (with external technical support where necessary). This report provides guidance on the technology necessary to provide 'clean water and sanitation for all’ to meet SDG number six.

Solutions for Unpalatable Drinking water: Monitoring and Treatment Approaches in Western Australian Indigenous Communities

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