Council also offer, upon request, bacteriological and chemical water sampling on private premises at a cost to the applicant. Currently this service is only offered to residents living in the Proserpine, Cannonvale, Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour regions.
All samples are sent to Queensland Health in Brisbane for testing. Once results are obtained, these are forwared to the applicant along with any relevant information from the guidelines which may help alleviate the problem if one is discovered.
If you are unsure of what type of test you require, please contact Environment and Compliance - Southern Office on (07) 4945 0200.
Bacteriological Testing
Bacteriological tests measure the content of bacteria present in the sample which may have a negative effects to ones health. These tests cannot be taken by the applicant for two reasons; the first being that the testing procedure requires specialised equipment and secondly, samples must be in Brisbane within 24 hours of the sample being taken.
Bacteriological sampling is conducted in the Whitsunday region on the first Tuesday of each month (except in November in which testing will take place on the second Tuesday). This is the preferred time for a Council Officer to take your sample. If this day is not suitable, it can be arranged to take the test on another day, however this will result in a higher fee due to freight. Depending on the location of the applicant, it may not always be possible to take the sample on the preferred water sampling day due to time contstraints. Please contact Environment and Compliance (Southern Office) on (07) 4945 0200 for more information.
To apply for a bacteriological test, please contact Environment and Compliance - Southern Office on (07) 4945 0200.
Chemical Testing
Chemical tests measure the content of certain chemical parameters in the water sample. Chemical tests may be conducted by the applicant. To apply for a chemical test, please call into Proserpine's Customer Service Centre to obtain an application form, or contact Council on (07) 4945 0200 to arrange to have the application faxed or posted to you.
Upon Council receiving the application, you will be provided with a bottle in which to conduct the sample. Instructions on how to take the sample are provided on the application form. It is advised that you submit samples to Council on the Thursday or Friday prior to the first Tuesday of each month. This enables your sample to be sent with the monthly samples submitted by Council and thus lowers the cost you will pay for freight. An invoice will be forwarded to you once the sample is submitted to Council. Once the payment has been made and once Council are in receipt, results will be forwarded to your nominated address.
The table below lists the various parameters measured in a standard chemical test.
| PARAMETER |
| pH |
| Total Hardness (as CaCO3) |
| Total Dissolved Solids |
| Turbidity |
| Cations: Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Hydrogen |
| Anions: Bicarbonate, Carbonate, Hydroxide, Chloride, Fluoride, Nitrate, Sulphate |
| Other Dissolved Elements: Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Aluminium, Boron, Copper |
If you wish to test for a particular element and it does not appear in the table above, extra costs may be involved and is subject to availability from Queensland Scientific Services.
Back to top
Council also offer, upon request, bacteriological and chemical water sampling on private premises at a cost to the applicant. Currently this service is only offered to residents living in the Proserpine, Cannonvale, Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour regions.
All samples are sent to Queensland Health in Brisbane for testing. Once results are obtained, these are forwared to the applicant along with any relevant information from the guidelines which may help alleviate the problem if one is discovered.
If you are unsure of what type of test you require, please contact Environment and Compliance - Southern Office on (07) 4945 0200.
Bacteriological Testing
Bacteriological tests measure the content of bacteria present in the sample which may have a negative effects to ones health. These tests cannot be taken by the applicant for two reasons; the first being that the testing procedure requires specialised equipment and secondly, samples must be in Brisbane within 24 hours of the sample being taken.
Bacteriological sampling is conducted in the Whitsunday region on the first Tuesday of each month (except in November in which testing will take place on the second Tuesday). This is the preferred time for a Council Officer to take your sample. If this day is not suitable, it can be arranged to take the test on another day, however this will result in a higher fee due to freight. Depending on the location of the applicant, it may not always be possible to take the sample on the preferred water sampling day due to time contstraints. Please contact Environment and Compliance (Southern Office) on (07) 4945 0200 for more information.
To apply for a bacteriological test, please contact Environment and Compliance - Southern Office on (07) 4945 0200.
Chemical Testing
Chemical tests measure the content of certain chemical parameters in the water sample. Chemical tests may be conducted by the applicant. To apply for a chemical test, please call into Proserpine's Customer Service Centre to obtain an application form, or contact Council on (07) 4945 0200 to arrange to have the application faxed or posted to you.
Upon Council receiving the application, you will be provided with a bottle in which to conduct the sample. Instructions on how to take the sample are provided on the application form. It is advised that you submit samples to Council on the Thursday or Friday prior to the first Tuesday of each month. This enables your sample to be sent with the monthly samples submitted by Council and thus lowers the cost you will pay for freight. An invoice will be forwarded to you once the sample is submitted to Council. Once the payment has been made and once Council are in receipt, results will be forwarded to your nominated address.
The table below lists the various parameters measured in a standard chemical test.
| PARAMETER |
| pH |
| Total Hardness (as CaCO3) |
| Total Dissolved Solids |
| Turbidity |
| Cations: Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Hydrogen |
| Anions: Bicarbonate, Carbonate, Hydroxide, Chloride, Fluoride, Nitrate, Sulphate |
| Other Dissolved Elements: Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Aluminium, Boron, Copper |
If you wish to test for a particular element and it does not appear in the table above, extra costs may be involved and is subject to availability from Queensland Scientific Services.
Back to top