Is your water too salty? The Australian towns where tap water is six times too saline - and it could have a major effect on your health
- New research has identified Australian towns where water has the most sodium
- The study highlighted how some Australian people are consuming too much salt
- Salt in particular has major health implications for people with health issues
- High levels of salt are associated with high blood pressure and kidney problems
- Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane had higher than normal salt concentration levels
- Researchers concluded by urging people to be aware of sources of salt in diets
Australians are placing their health at risk by drinking water with surprisingly high levels of salt.
New research released by Western Sydney University this week has revealed the drinking water in some major cities has up to six times the acceptable salt level.
While all water supplies were within Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, many had too much salt - which can have major health implications for some people.
Australians are placing their health at risk by drinking water with surprisingly high levels of salt - and you'll never guess which cities are the worst
New research released by Western Sydney University this week has revealed the drinking water in some major cities has up to six times the acceptable salt level
Darwin, Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart all had acceptable levels of salt (less than 20mg/L), while Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane had high levels of salt.
The study also found that Mt Yokine in Perth had more than six times the acceptable level of salt at 125mg/L, which is a health risk for people on low-sodium diets.
Researchers said the guidelines focused on salinity - or the total dissolved solids - rather than salt alone, which may explain why some levels were higher than others.
According to the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, water can have a salinity of up to 500mg/L, but at 180mg/L water can start to taste salty.
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The study found Perth suburbs ranked the highest for total salinity, followed by Adelaide and Brisbane, and then Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart and Canberra.
Salinity is also often referred to as an 'aesthetic' guideline based on taste, as opposed to a health consideration, which is why high levels can escape scrutiny.
Water contains several elements or 'salts' that contribute to its overall saltiness, including sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium, chloride and sulfate.
But it's sodium in particular that researchers said can have major health implications for people with high blood pressure, heart disease and kidney failure.
According to the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, water can have a salinity of up to 500mg/L, but at 180mg/L water can start to taste salty
Doctors also recommend that patients with underlying illness should consume a low sodium diet, which includes drinking water with less than 20mg/L of sodium
Australian guidelines recommend people consume 2,300mg of sodium daily, but those with health issues should aim for 1,600mg.
Doctors also recommend that patients with underlying illness should consume a low sodium diet, which includes drinking water with less than 20mg/L of sodium.
The study also found regional and remote regions of Australia, including Tennant Creek and Alice Springs in Northern Territory and Geraldton in Western Australia, had higher than normal salt levels.
The small coastal settlement of Horrocks in Western Australia had the most alarming sodium levels at 408mg/L - 130 times more than Darwin's average concentration.
Researchers of the study concluded by saying while there isn't enough transparency about sodium levels in water, people can take action by being aware of where their salt comes from - especially those on low sodium diets.
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