Altona Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Altona's drinking water is supplied by City West Water as water retailer, with bulk supply from Melbourne Water drawing predominantly from the Thomson Reservoir and Upper Yarra Reservoir direct catchment supply for the Hobsons Bay City Council LGA outer western Melbourne coastal distribution in Victoria. Water hardness in Altona is measured at 42 mg/L — classified as soft — well below the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) aesthetic guideline of 200 mg/L published by NHMRC. Altona — a bayside suburb in the Hobsons Bay City LGA on the western Port Phillip Bay shoreline, known for the Altona Beach foreshore and pavilion, the Point Cook Coastal Park and Cheetham Wetlands adjacent to the Altona Coastal Park, the Altona Meadows and Laverton residential community, and the western Port Phillip Bay petrochemical and industrial estate precinct — receives soft supply from the City West Water outer western Hobsons Bay distribution, consistent with the adjacent Altona North sub-zone (49 mg/L) in the same LGA.

Altona's soft supply reflects a predominantly direct Thomson Reservoir and Upper Yarra catchment supply delivered through City West Water's outer western Hobsons Bay distribution. The Thomson and Upper Yarra storages drain exclusively Devonian granite and rhyodacite in protected wilderness catchments — contributing negligible dissolved minerals. At 42 mg/L and TDS 78.1 mg/L, the Altona Hobsons Bay outer western distribution is consistent with the soft character of the City West Water outer western Melbourne supply corridor, reflecting a predominantly direct reservoir supply routing with minimal Winneke WTP blending.

Altona residents enjoy low limescale accumulation on taps and in kettles — descaling every two to three months is typically adequate. Hot water systems accumulate minimal scale. The low lead reading (0.002 mg/L) is excellent. City West Water provides water quality information at citywestwater.com.au, with all ADWG health standards consistently met. Altona's Port Phillip Bay coastal community and the Altona Beach foreshore precinct benefit from this soft, clean supply meeting all ADWG standards.