Can you drink bore water? Not until a laboratory says so
Bore water can look perfect and still be unsafe. Looking, tasting and smelling tell you nothing about what is in it.
You should not drink bore water on a guess. The only way to know is a test from an accredited (NATA) laboratory. Clear, cold, tasty water can still carry bacteria, salt or metals that harm you over time.
Bore water comes straight from the ground, and nobody treats it for you. With mains water, your water authority does the testing and treating. With a bore, you do the testing yourself, or nobody does.
Why clear water proves nothing
Your eyes and nose pick up iron stains, a salty taste or a rotten-egg smell. They miss most of the things that matter for drinking. Bacteria have no colour. Many dissolved contaminants have no taste.
A bore that gave you good water for years can change. A dry spell, new septic systems nearby or a damaged bore casing can all alter what comes out. One good result is not a permanent pass.
What a laboratory looks at
Ask the laboratory what it recommends for your area and your intended use. Typical checks cover the following.
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Microbiological (such as E. coli) | Shows whether faecal contamination has reached the bore |
| Salinity and pH | High salt makes water unpleasant and unsuitable for some uses |
| Iron and manganese | Cause staining and taste problems |
| Hardness | Causes scale in pipes, kettles and hot water systems |
| Local contaminants | Depends on land use around you, so ask the lab and your health authority |
How to take the sample properly
Use the bottles the laboratory gives you and follow its instructions to the letter. A badly taken sample gives a wrong answer that looks official. Deliver it quickly, because some tests have a short time limit.
Your state health or water department can point you to approved laboratories. Ask them too whether your area has known groundwater problems.
What bore water is usually used for
Many households use bore water on the garden or for washing the car. Even those uses depend on your local rules and on how the bore is plumbed. A good test result does not remove the need to keep it separate from your mains supply. Read more on what bore water is and on non-potable water.
If a test comes back with a problem, do not try to fix it with a hardware store filter and hope. Treatment depends on what the lab found.
From first test to first drink: the steps in order
Follow these steps and do not skip ahead. Water that looks fine tells you nothing.
- Stop drinking it until you have a result. Clear, cold, tasty water can still carry bacteria, salt or metals.
- Contact an accredited NATA laboratory. Ask what it recommends for your area and your intended use.
- Collect the sample as instructed. Use the bottles the laboratory gives you and follow its instructions to the letter.
- Deliver it quickly. Some tests have a short time limit.
- Read the result with the laboratory and your health authority. If there is a problem, treatment depends on what the lab found, not on a hardware store filter.
- Repeat the test if anything changes. A dry spell, new septic systems nearby or a damaged casing can all alter the water.
Keep the bore separate from your mains supply even after a good result. Our guide on what bore water is covers what you can use it for in the meantime.
Bore water myths and what is true
These beliefs are common, and each can lead people to drink water that is not safe.
| What people say | What is true |
|---|---|
| It looks clear, so it is fine | Bacteria have no colour, and many dissolved contaminants have no taste |
| It tastes good | Taste and smell pick up iron, salt and eggs, but miss most of what matters for drinking |
| It passed a test last year | One good result is not a permanent pass. Conditions around the bore can change |
| Boiling will make it safe | Boiling can deal with some germs, but it does nothing for salt or metals |
| A hardware store filter will fix it | Treatment depends on what the laboratory found |
| The neighbour drinks theirs | A different bore can give a different result. Test your own |
Your state health or water department can point you to approved laboratories and tell you whether your area has known groundwater problems.
Frequently asked questions
Can you drink bore water?
Not without an accredited laboratory test. Bore water is untreated, and looks, taste and smell cannot tell you whether it is safe.
How do I know if my bore water is safe?
Send a sample to an accredited (NATA) laboratory and ask what to test for in your area. Repeat the test if anything changes.
Does boiling make bore water safe?
Boiling can deal with some germs, but it does nothing for salt or metals. Ask a laboratory and your health authority before relying on it.
Who do I call about a bad result?
Your state or territory health or water department, and a licensed plumber for any change to the plumbing.
Sources
What this page explains is based on these official sources. If you check one and it does not match what you read here, send it to us and the article gets corrected.
- NHMRC. Australian Drinking Water Guidelines
- Sydney Water. Water supply, wastewater and stormwater services