Melbourne is known for its high-quality tap water, having been crowned best in Australia and second best in the world in 2019.
The Yarra Ranges with its native forests act as a natural filter which ultimately means less treatment is required for Melbourne’s water supply. The catchments also have limited public access to prevent any human contamination of the water supply. However, despite the natural filter that Melbourne possesses there is still a need to monitor the water to ensure its high-quality world standard.
Recently, a report of a 24-year-long study conducted by Melbourne water highlighted low levels of the chlorine-resistant pathogen Cryptosporidium. Having collected over 11,000 animal scat samples though, Cryptosporidium was identified in just 2.2% of samples, with only 0.2% infectious to humans. Although sambar deer were potentially suspected as a source of Cryptosporidium, it seems that deer and Melbourne’s water mix rather well!
There is more to deer than hunting.
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