Water quality in WA

Hi Philip,
AFAIK, Karratha's water mostly comes from the Harding Dam, and the Millstream aquifer (which was once the only source) is now only drawn on during very dry periods.
Gerry

Now that's hard.

Hi Darian,
The stains on walls are from iron in the water from domestic reticulation bores, usually less than 30m deep. There is usually also a noticeable level of hydrogen sulphide.
This is not an issue with scheme water; it is pulled from very deep aquifers, or from dams in the hills, and undergoes extensive treatment before reticulation to the public, but the dissolved calcium salts remain and occasionally one gets high chlorine levels, part of the treatment. I use a Brita filter to remove the chlorine taste, and the water tastes better than bottled water.
About once a year, I put some citric acid in my electric kettle to remove any scale, but that's about it.
It is a fact that hot water systems last less in Perth than in the other states, but I don't think that a few weeks in WA is going to radically affect one's caravan plumbing (or one's own plumbing, for that matter :-).

Interestingly, people are happy to pay $$ for bottled "mineral" water; ie, containing minerals, on the assumption that they must be good for you, but shy away from scheme water containing minerals. If they want really pure water, one can usually buy distilled or de-ionised water at a supermarket cheaper than the ripoff "mineral" water.
cheers,
Gerry

The gas HW system at Millstream NP camp ground fancy new Kitchen failed after about 6 months.
Karratha gets its water from Millstream springs.

Regards Philip A