Water hardness & quality in Mount Barker
6324 · Great Southern Region · Reporting period 2023-2024
Reported by Water Corporation as the “Mt Barker” supply.
The verdict
Mount Barker's water is clearer — though it runs much harder and saltier than most of its 58 neighbours.
Water hardness
Very hard262mg/L
Heavy scale on fixtures and appliances, and harder on hot water systems. Softeners and filters are common.
Measured at the Mount Barker supply.
ADWG aesthetic guideline: 200 mg/L. Hardness affects scale and taste, not safety.
Compare water hardness across WA →At a glance
Position within the Great Southern Region
Purity
By-products & nitrate
Less pure than 69% of Great Southern Region supplies
Clarity
Turbidity, colour, metals
Clearer than 76% of Great Southern Region supplies
Taste
Sodium, chloride, TDS
Saltier than 77% of Great Southern Region supplies
Hardness
Calcium & magnesium
Harder than 89% of Great Southern Region supplies
pH balance
How close to neutral (7.0)
About average for the Great Southern Region
Full readings
Typical (mean) value at Mount Barker versus the Great Southern Region average.
Purity & health
| Parameter | Mount Barker | Region avg | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trihalomethanes (THMs) | 0.11 | 0.07 | mg/L |
| Nitrate | 1.3 | 4.8 | mg/L |
Clarity & appearance
| Parameter | Mount Barker | Region avg | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turbidity | 0.30 | 0.53 | NTU |
| Iron | 0.04 | 0.10 | mg/L |
Taste & saltiness
| Parameter | Mount Barker | Region avg | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium | 70.4 | 58.9 | mg/L |
| Chloride | 138 | 111 | mg/L |
| Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)Above ADWG | 614 | 324 | mg/L |
| Sulphate | 24.0 | 16.7 | mg/L |
Hardness & scale
| Parameter | Mount Barker | Region avg | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| HardnessAbove ADWG | 262 | 101 | mg/L |
| Alkalinity | 216 | 70.2 | mg/L |
| Silica | 14.6 | 8.3 | mg/L |
pH balance
| Parameter | Mount Barker | Region avg | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 8.1 | 7.7 | pH units |
Compare nearby
All of Great Southern Region →Common questions
Is the tap water in Mount Barker safe to drink?
In the 2023-2024 reporting year, Mount Barker's supply met the NHMRC Australian Drinking Water Guidelines health limits for every parameter with published data.
How hard is the water in Mount Barker?
Mount Barker's water averages 262 mg/L of hardness (as calcium carbonate), which is very hard. That's harder than most of the Great Southern Region. Heavy scale on fixtures and appliances, and harder on hot water systems. Softeners and filters are common.
Is Mount Barker's water fluoridated?
Yes — Water Corporation fluoridates the Mount Barker supply. Fluoride averaged 0.81 mg/L in 2023-2024, within the ADWG limit of 1.5 mg/L.
Data & methodology
Data source: Water Corporation of WA Drinking Water Quality Annual Report 2023-2024.
Regional ranking: Each measured parameter is ranked against every other locality in the Great Southern Region using the typical (mean) reading. Lower readings rank better, except pH where the score is distance from neutral (7).
ADWG safety check: Every reading is independently checked against the NHMRC Australian Drinking Water Guidelines; any value above the limit is flagged regardless of how it compares to neighbours.