Asbestos in drinking water
The question is common and the answer is narrow. The guidelines set no value for it, and the practical risk for a homeowner is the pipe itself, not the tap.
Asbestos in drinking water mostly comes from one source: ageing asbestos cement pipes in the water network. The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines name "deterioration of asbestos cement pipes commonly used in water distribution systems" as a source. They also say data are insufficient to set a guideline value for asbestos in drinking water. That is the whole official position, and it is worth reading before you worry.
What the guidelines do and do not say
The NHMRC page does not set a limit for the tap. It does not give you a number to test against. Its health concern is about breathing asbestos in, which is a matter for the air around damaged material, not for a glass of water.
This site does not give medical advice. If you have a health concern about your exposure, speak to your doctor.
Why the pipe matters more than the tap
Older mains and some older house connections were made of asbestos cement. Intact pipe that is buried and left alone is a low-risk situation. The trouble starts when someone cuts, drills, sands or breaks it. That releases dust, and dust is the real problem.
So if you want to know what your pipe is made of, do not cut a section out to look. Do not dig along a buried line with a spade or a machine until you know what is down there. Read asbestos pipes: where cement pipe turns up and what to leave alone for where these pipes hide.
Who to call
The pipe on the street side of your meter belongs to the water utility. Phone them. They know what their network is made of and how they handle repairs. Inside your property boundary, a licensed plumber can tell you what is known about the service line, but a plumber cannot confirm asbestos by eye.
Only a sample analysed at a NATA-accredited laboratory can confirm a material. Taking a sample from a pipe disturbs it, so leave that to a licensed assessor.
Do you need a water test?
Probably not. The guidelines do not set a value to compare a result against, so a test result would have nothing to be measured by. Your money is better spent on a proper assessment of any pipe you plan to work on.
Check the rules in your state
Who may remove or repair asbestos pipe depends on your state or territory and on the condition of the material. See what a homeowner can legally remove, then confirm with your local regulator before you plan any work.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines set a limit for asbestos?
No. The NHMRC guidelines state that data are insufficient to determine a guideline value for asbestos in drinking water.
Where does asbestos in drinking water come from?
The guidelines name the deterioration of asbestos cement pipes used in water distribution systems as a source.
Should I cut a pipe to see if it is asbestos cement?
No. Cutting or breaking the pipe releases dust. Ask your water utility or a licensed assessor instead.
Can a plumber confirm that a pipe contains asbestos?
Not by eye. Only a sample analysed at a NATA-accredited laboratory can confirm it, and the sample should be taken by a licensed assessor.
Sources
What this page explains is based on these official sources. If you check one and it does not match what you read here, send it to us and the article gets corrected.
- NHMRC, Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. Asbestos