An investigation has been launched after low levels of carcinogens known as “forever chemicals” were detected in Sydney’s drinking water catchments.
Sydney Water has confirmed that PFAS chemicals linked to cancer have been found in catchments across the city, according to new data uncovered in June.
The data revealed that there were low levels of cancer-linked carcinogens at major filtration plants, including Orchard Hills, Prospect Reservoir and Warragamba.
PFAS chemicals were also detected at higher levels at Cascade Dam in the Blue Mountains and in North Richmond, 70km northwest of the CBD.
PFAS concentration levels are within Australia’s drinking water guidelines, but exceed what the United States now considers safe to drink.
In April, industrial conglomerate 3M was sued for “misleading” the American public about the presence of PFAS chemicals in their drinking water.
PFAS is a term used for thousands of substances considered “forever chemicals” because they never break down in the environment.
Chemicals found in Sydney tap water have been used in fabric protectors, packaging and firefighting foam. The Sydney Morning Herald information.
New data from Sydney Water revealed there were low levels of cancer-linked carcinogens at major filtration plants including Orchard Hills, Prospect Reservoir and Warragamba (pictured)
Sydney Water has confirmed that cancer-linked PFAS chemicals have been found in catchments across the city (pictured: Water NSW at Warragamba Dam)
Sydney Water detected PFAS chemicals in five of the nine water catchments sampled, with Cascade recording more than 10 ppt (parts per billion) of PFAS.
These levels are four times the maximum limit at which PFAS must be removed from drinking water in the US, prompting another round of testing.
The Cascade water filtration plant supplies water to 30,000 people with higher PFAS levels in Katoomba and Blackheath than elsewhere.
2+ ppt of PFAS were detected at water filtration plants in Orchard Hills, North Richmond, Prospect and Warragamba.
However, no PFAS levels were detected in the Macarthur, Nepean, Woronora River or Illawarra catchments.
The results of tests carried out by Sydney Water will see the country’s largest water company now conduct monthly tests in “potentially impacted areas”.
The move contradicts Sydney Water’s previous position that there are no PFAS hotspots in the city’s drinking water catchments.
“All samples analysed are well below the guidelines (for Australian drinking water)” … and “drinking water monitoring uses a risk-based approach,” a Sydney Water spokesperson said.
‘There is regular consultation between Sydney Water, WaterNSW and NSW Health to assess any potential risk of PFAS or any other contaminants in Sydney’s drinking water supply.’
However, experts say urgent research into PFAS in Australia needs to be prioritized.
Ian Wright, a water pollution expert at Western Sydney University, said the results of the latest tests carried out by Sydney Water would be “confronting” to many.
“This also contradicts the authorities’ statements that there is no risk of PFAS in the basin. More regular testing is certainly needed and public reporting should be made on this,” the expert told the Herald.
PFAS is a term used for thousands of substances considered “forever chemicals” because they never break down in the environment (pictured, Warragamba Dam)
High levels of PFAS have been detected in the livers of platypuses off the coast of New South Wales, suggesting the chemicals may accumulate and spread (stock)
Her warning comes as high levels of PFAS have been detected in the livers of platypuses off the coast of New South Wales, suggesting the chemicals can accumulate and spread.
Some of the monotremes with levels of the “forever chemicals” were found in areas where there are no known PFA hotspots nearby.
The study, led by Western Sydney University PhD student Katherine Warwick, studied the bodies of nine platypuses from different regions.
The researchers found that all of the native animals had traces of PFAS in their systems, except for one captive platypus that had ingested filtered water at Taronga Zoo.
One of the platypuses, found dead in the Wingecarribee River catchment, had 390 micrograms of PFAS chemicals per kilogram in its liver.
“The levels are very, very high,” Dr. Wright told the Herald.
Previous studies have revealed links between PFAS and liver damage, birth defects and a compromised immune system in other species.