TAPP WATER TESTING REPORT SUMMARY for June 2025
TAPP is very concerned about this report completed by the TAPP water Quality Subcommittee last month.
We have reported this to the Council and will also follow up with the State Department of Environment (DESI)
Trigger values are from Qld Govt Water Quality Guidelines, Dept of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.
Australian Government Initiative: Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality.
Explanation of Abbreviations
pH– measures acidity
KH – (Carbonate Hardness) acts as a buffering method to stabilize and maintain pH levels
GH – (General Hardness) measures Calcium and Magnesium which are vital for various biological processes. It measures the softness of the water.
EC – Electrical Conductivity – used to measure ions or dissolved substances – to evaluate the purity of the water
TDS – Total Dissolved Solids
DO – Dissolved Oxygen
ORP – Oxidation Reduction Potential- measures the ability of the waterway to cleanse itself or break down waste products like contaminants/ dead plants or animals
NO2, NO3 are nitrogen containing compounds – nitrogen is released by decomposing material or contaminants
NH3– Ammonia, PO4 – Phosphorus
TAPP WATER TESTING REPORT SUMMARY for June 2025
Sites latitude and longitude as per Google Maps
Pelican Creek (Western toxic drain) June 4th 2025
Lat 26.8133 south
Long 153.1082 east
Biological indicators show total lack of macro and micro invertebrates
pH 6.65
temp 22.1 deg C
KH 31 ppm (low buffering soft fresh water)
GH 85 ppm (Ca and Mg) soft water
EC 464 uS/cm
TDS 330 ppm
salinity 0.023% (fresh water)
low NO3 0 ppm, NO2 0 ppm, NH3 0.47 ppm, PO4 0.02 ppm
DO 67% 5.5 mg/L (low oxygen)
ORP 161 mV
Significantly high iron at 610 ppb (from Pelican Waters Estate acid soil disturbance) (freshwater high reliability trigger value for iron is 300 ppb)
Lamerough creek June 4th
Lat 26.8132135 Sth
Long 153.1087048 East
Biological indicators show total lack of macro and micro invertebrates.
pH 6.4 (acidic)
EC 115 uS/cm,
TDS 91 ppm, salinity 0.06 ppt, 0.006% (acidic fresh water)
DO 58%, 5.2 mg/L (low oxygen}
low KH 29 ppm (low buffering capacity)
low GH 17 ppm, (soft water) low Ca and Mg (cations)
low pH and low buffering increases lead toxicity
normal NO3, NO2, NH3, PO4,
EXTREME high iron 2770 ppb (freshwater high reliability trigger value for iron is 300 ppb)
high Chromium 15 ppb (freshwater high reliability trigger value for chromium is 1.0 ppb)
very high Lead >10 ppb (Colloidal Gold Method) (lead is very toxic in water with low pH and low buffering capacity) (freshwater high reliability trigger value for lead is 3.4 ppb)
Duckhole creek June 4th
Lat 26.80797 Sth
Long 153.11478 East
Biological indicators show total lack of macro and micro invertebrates.
pH 6.8 (slightly acid)
EC 234 uS/cm, TDS 177 ppm, salinity 0.14 ppt, 0.014%
DO 73%, 6.2 mg/L (borderline low oxygen)
KH 51 ppm alkalinity as CaCo3 and GH 68 ppm Ca/Mg (low buffering)
normal NO3, NO2, NH3, PO4, low Ca 10 ppm and Mg 16 ppm
high iron 843 ppb (acid sulfate soils) (freshwater high reliability trigger value for iron is 300 ppb)
chromium 1 ppb (below trigger value)
moderate high lead 6-9 ppb (freshwater high reliability trigger value for lead is 3.4 ppb)
Rotary Park Duck Pond water from industrial site June 7th
Lat 26.7994976 Sth
Long 153.1145209 East
pH 7.2 (neutral pH)
EC 282 uS/cm,
TDS 199 ppm, salinity 0.14 ppt, 0.014%,
ORP 148 mV
KH 55 ppm (CaCO3 buffering is low)
GH 72 ppm (low Ca/Mg soft water)
sulfate less than 20 ppm
NO3, NO2, NH3, PO4 all normal
High Chromium 11 ppb, (water from industrial estate) (freshwater high reliability trigger value for chromium is 1 ppb)
High Iron 581 ppb (water from industrial estate) (freshwater high reliability trigger value for iron is 300 ppb)
High lead 5 to 10 ppb (water from industrial estate) (freshwater high reliability trigger value for lead is 3.4 ppb)
Pelican Waters Blvd channel opposite Reserve 1000 June 7th
Lat 26.8034870 South
Long 153. 1155914 East
Biological indicators show total lack of macro and micro invertebrates.
pH 7.2
EC 370 uS/cm
TDS 261 ppm, salinity 0.18 ppt, 0.018% (freshwater)
ORP 276 mV
KH (CaCO3) 90 ppm (moderate buffering capacity)
GH 110 ppm (Ca/Mg moderate hardness)
low NO3, NO2, NH3, PO4 0.09 ppm
Chlorine 0 ppm
Chromium 4 ppb (freshwater high reliability trigger value for chromium is 1 ppb)
Iron 215 ppb (freshwater high reliability trigger value for iron is 300 ppb)
lead 1-5 ppb (freshwater high reliability trigger value for lead is 3.4 ppb)
Lamerough Creek June 18th
Lat 26.8130202 south
Long 153.1093258 East
Biological indicators show total lack of macro and micro invertebrates.
pH 6.4 (acidic)
EC 119 uS/cm
TDS 88 ppm
Salinity 0.006% (fresh water)
D.O. 77%
ORP 79mV
KH 20 ppm (low buffering capacity)
GH 50 ppm (soft water)
Nil NO3, NO2, NH3, PO4
Iron 139 ppb (freshwater high reliability trigger value for iron is 300 ppb)
Chromium 7 ppb (freshwater high reliability trigger value for chromium is 1 ppb)
Lead 6 to 10 ppb (increased toxicity due to low buffering capacity in fresh water) (freshwater high reliability trigger value for lead is 3.4 ppb)
Pelican Waters Estate Golf Course Lake
Lat 26.8297237 Sth
Long 153.0932134 East
pH 8.0 (slightly alkaline suggests water has been treated with lime)
EC 2150 uS/cm (very high) (water has high level of cations Mg and Ca from added lime)
TDS 1530 ppm (high dissolved ion content)
Salinity 0.1%
D.O. 80%
ORP 83 mV (low REDOX)
KH 72 ppm (low)
GH 270 ppm (very hard water) indicates high level of Ca and Mg ions probably from Dolomite lime added to water to neutralize acidity
Sulfate 90 ppm (high from acid sulfate soil)
EXTREME high Iron 12,700 ppb (extreme high level from acid sulfate soil) (freshwater high reliability trigger value for iron is 300 ppb)
Pelican Creek at Snapping Turtle sign June 25th
Lat 26.8198978 south
Long 153.1017177 East
Biological indicators show total lack of macro and micro invertebrates.
pH 7.0 (neutral)
EC 9380 uS/cm (very high electrical conductivity due to sea water intrusion)
TDS 6680 ppm (very high electrical conductivity due to sea water intrusion)
D.O. 81% 6.8 mg/L
KH 61 ppm (low carbonate buffering)
GH 935 ppm (extreme hardness due to sea water intrusion)
Sulfate greater than 100 ppm (due to sea water intrusion)
Iron 715 ppm (very high due to iron sulfate soil disturbance from Golf Course Estate) (freshwater high reliability trigger value for iron is 300 ppb)
Chromium 8 ppb (freshwater high reliability trigger value for chromium is 1 ppb
Pelican Creek above concrete barrier June 25th
Lat 26.8135953 south
Long 153.1071210 East
Biological indicators show total lack of macro and micro invertebrates.
pH 7.0 (neutral)
EC 15960 uS/cm (very high electrical conductivity due to sea water intrusion)
TDS 10,000 ppm (very high total dissolved solutes due to sea water intrusion)
D.O. 76% 6.7 mg/L
KH 66 ppm (low carbonate buffering)
GH 1,600 ppm (extreme ionic hardness due to sea water intrusion)
Very high Sulfate greater than 100 ppm (due to sea water intrusion)
Iron 562 ppm (very high due to iron sulfate soil disturbance from Golf Course Estate) (freshwater high reliability trigger value for iron is 300 ppb)
Drainage channel alongside southern boundary of Caloundra City Private School draining into Pelican Creek June 28th
Lat 26.8247865 south
Long 153.1016124 East
Biological indicators show total lack of macro and micro invertebrates and no sign of biological life including flora and fauna.
pH 3.5 (extreme acidity) potential to cause skin burns and blindness if splashed into eyes
EC 417 uS/cm
TDS 93 ppm
salinity 0.21 ppt, 0.021% (freshwater)
ORP 400 mV (strong oxidizer)
KH (CaCO3) 0 ppm, CaCO3 and HCO3 has been oxidized to CO2 due to acid
GH 90 ppm (Ca/Mg low, no evidence of limestone added to acid in water)
low NO3, NO2, NH3, PO4 0.09 ppm
Chlorine 0 ppm
Chromium 0 ppb
Very high Copper 75 ppb (freshwater high reliability trigger value is 1.4 ppb)
Very high Iron 2540 ppb (freshwater high reliability trigger value for iron is 300 ppb)
Borderline lead 1-5 ppb (freshwater high reliability trigger value for lead is 3.4 ppb)
Pelican Waters Canal Estate alongside Pelican Waters Blvd June 28th
Lat 26.8295301 south
Long 153.0994556 East
Biological indicators showsome macro and micro invertebrates, requires further investigation
pH 7.9
EC 2620 uS/cm (very high) (water has high level of cations Mg and Ca from added lime)
TDS 1860 ppm (high dissolved ion content)
Salinity 1.32 ppt 0.13%
D.O. 85% 7.7 mg/L
ORP 320 mV
KH 48 ppm (low buffering capacity)
GH 270 ppm (very hard water) indicates high level of Ca and Mg ions probably from Dolomite lime added to water to neutralize acidity
Sulfate 90 ppm (high from acid sulfate soil)
EXTREME high Iron 12,700 ppb (extreme high level from acid sulfate soil) (freshwater high reliability trigger value for iron is 300 ppb)