Power and Water’s 2025 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report (ADWQR) is now available. The report features a water quality assessment for each of the 18 major and minor urban centres and 72 remote communities the organisation served across the Northern Territory from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.

Forming part of a Memorandum of Understanding between NT Health, Power and Water and Indigenous Essential Services, the report also features key developments in Power and Water’s work to provide secure, reliable drinking water to all Territorians.

Developments include progress on the Manton Dam Return to Service project, which will deliver an additional 7,300 ML of water to the Darwin region water supply system; an update on the Adelaide River Off-Stream Water Storage (AROWS) project, which is nearing concept design completion; and several projects to improve water security in remote communities, jointly funded by the Northern Territory Government and National Water Grid. They include:

• $7.4m for 55 infrastructure assessments in remote communities, to help inform solutions to water security
• $34.3m for various drilling and equipping projects (Better Bores for Communities) in 10 communities; Robinson River, Warruwi, Yuelamu, Titjikala, Finke, Atitjere, Gapuwiyak, Wugularr, Haasts Bluff and Ntaria
• $15.98m (including $1 million from Gumatj Corporation) for water infrastructure upgrades in Gunyangara
• $17.85m for water network replacement in Galiwinku.

‘Water comes from a range of sources across the Northern Territory and we adopt a fit-for-purpose treatment solution for each community,’ Power and Water CEO Djuna Pollard said.

‘Our Annual Drinking Water Quality Report, which is nationally recognised as leading practice in the water industry, helps us keep Territorians informed about the quality of their drinking water and the measures we take to keep water secure and reliable. For example, we tested 6,755 samples for E. coli during the reporting period, and there were no verified detections.

‘The report also shows how we provide alternative water sources while researching long-term solutions to issues such as high levels of naturally occurring minerals in water.’

Alternative sources include providing bottled water for some or all residents in 5 remote communities, for different reasons. Most recently, Power and Water has commenced supplying bottled water to residents in Bulla due to ongoing high levels of naturally occurring barium in the drinking water. The supply of bottled water will stay in place while Power and Water assess long-term solutions.

Alongside improvements to water infrastructure and service delivery across the Territory, the ADWQR itself has been further improved this year, including:

• The inclusion of 10-year trend data
• Individual ‘report cards’ for each community detailing Australian Drinking Water Guidelines compliance for a range of parameters

‘From bringing Manton Dam back online as a drinking water source to upgrading water infrastructure in multiple remote communities, we have continued our focus on providing secure, reliable drinking water to Territorians, and supporting economic and population growth,’ Mrs Pollard said.

‘This will remain our ongoing focus as we work with a number of stakeholders to achieve the best possible water quality across the Territory.’

Find the report at: https://www.powerwater.com.au/about/publications-and-forms/annual-drinking-water-quality-reports

Media contact: 0401 117 599 / media@powerwater.com.au