PFAS Contamination Inquiry Finds Sydney Water Lacked Proactive Testing in Catchments
Sydney,NSW – A parliamentary inquiry has found Sydney Water and WaterNSW failed to adequately implement Australia’s drinking water guidelines regarding PFAS contamination,particularly lacking proactive testing before declaring “no known PFAS hotspots” in catchments.The inquiry’s report, released today, recommends blood testing of Blue Mountains residents to determine if PFAS concentrations in the community are higher than the general population.
The inquiry’s findings suggest a systemic issue with the interpretation and application of risk management frameworks for PFAS, despite assurances that all NSW public drinking water supplies currently meet updated Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. Professor Stuart khan, head of the University of Sydney’s School of Civil Engineering, stated the agencies appeared to have ”forgotten that it is a risk management framework - they have to be proactive in implementing it.”
The report details concerns about the handling of PFAS, a group of man-made chemicals linked to health problems, and calls for a “comprehensively review” of how drinking water guidelines are understood and implemented across the NSW water sector.The inquiry was prompted by community concerns over potential PFAS contamination in the Blue Mountains and other areas.
The NSW government acknowledged the report and committed to a response within three months, as required by parliament. A government spokesperson highlighted ongoing “whole-of-government work” to manage PFAS impacts, including an EPA assessment of over 1,100 legacy sites. They reiterated that current testing shows all NSW public drinking water supplies meet national guidelines.
The inquiry’s recommendations include supporting blood testing for willing Blue Mountains residents to assess PFAS levels in the community compared to the broader population. This request aims to provide a clearer understanding of potential exposure and health risks.
