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Health Services

Drinking Water Monitoring Program

Forbes Shire Council works in conjunction with NSW Health to conduct an intesive monotring program to ensure the high-quality standard of drinking water throughout our Shire.

Safe drinking water is essential for public health. The NSW Department of Health have endorsed the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 1996 (ADWG) for use by water utilities in NSW. The ADWG define water quality criteria for water primarily intended for human consumption, and includes water used for drinking, bathing and showering. The Guidleines provide a solid foundation for assessing water quality by specifying health-based and aesthetic criteria, as well as a philosophy of the multiple barrier approach from catchment to tap, to ensure the safety of the water.

Forbes Shire Council agrees that it is vital to ensure that consumers in regional New South Wales receive safe drinking water. In taking an active approach, a member from Council's Environmental Services Department routinely take water samples from numerous source sites, not only in the Forbes township, but in the entire Forbes Shire, on a weekly basis. Samples are sent to analytical laboratories, where they are analysed and assessed against relevant drinking water guidelines. Water samples are tested for bacteriological content and chemical components.

Food Safe Program

The Forbes Shire Council has in place a rigorous, but fair food surveillance system called "Forbes Shire Safe Food Project" that monitors the health of food businesses within the Shire.

Forbes Safe Food Project

Food businesses are audited and charged a fee, which reflects the respective business risk category. Historically, the Forbes Shire Safe Food Project replaces the older "one fee for all" food auditing system. The Safe Food Project has a number of other benefits:

• It prioritises food safety, whilst less emphasis is placed on cost recovery.
• Greater weighting and emphasis is placed on higher risk foods (eg. Meats, poultry, seafood).
• Reports for all food businesses are standardised.
• It complements the relevant legislation such as the Food Regulations 2001 and Food Act 1989.
• Satisfactory food practises are acknowledged and rewarded.
• Rather than negative food safety practices, it promotes the positive ones.
• It is suitable for both small and large businesses and businesses that sell many, or only one type of food.
• It provides an indicator for education and enforcement programs.

In addition, Council (in conjunction with NSW Health) conducts annual food safety seminars to bring food handlers up to speed with best practice food hygiene management skills and legislative requirements.

© 2008 Forbes Shire Council
This page: http://www.forbes.nsw.gov.au/environment/1064.html