A team of Macquarie University researchers and students took tap-water samples from 101 tank water dependent properties last week.

The samples are being analysed for heavy metals such as lead and cadmium.

The Gloucester Environment Group initiated the project after community concerns about the health impacts of mining in the Gloucester Valley.

About 350 homes are within five kilometres of the Stratford and Duralie mines or the train line used to transport coal.

"Coal dust has been known for many years to impact adversely on health through its effect on the lungs, and in more recent years, its systemic effects on all other bodily organs has also been described," Gloucester Environment Group spokesman Steve Robinson said.

"Studies on the effects on water tanks are far less numerous."

Wards River resident David Hare-Scott said he was eagerly awaiting the test results, expected in about a month.

"If it turns out there is nothing to worry about, well and good. If there is something to worry about, we want to get something done about it. Either way I don't want my family drinking something that is dangerous."

A spokesman for Duralie Coal said continuous air and water monitoring was done to assess the impact of mining on populations living near its operations.

"Local residents will be pleased to know that during 15 years of continuous monitoring, our mines have always complied with industry applicable health criteria and mining conditions in the absence of non-mining related influences such as bushfires," he said.