Council is committed to a safe and secure water supply
Published on 12 June 2024
Council, in response to a number of media stories regarding the presence of PFAS and PFOS in water supply systems, including Bathurst, provides the following background information:
Bathurst Regional Council, like other water providers, is committed to providing a safe and secure drinking water supply for our community. Council, and other water providers are regulated and our water supply is tested to ensure we meet (or exceed) the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
Council is undertaking all water quality testing as directed by NSW Health. As with all drinking water quality parameters, we are subject to the guideline values as confirmed in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG).
Water quality testing occurs continuously, daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly depending on the parameter. For the two chemicals identified, testing is undertaken monthly, with the latest sample taken on 8 May 2024. The results are below the Australian Drinking Water Guideline values.
The United States EPA sets a Maximum Contaminant Level (legally enforceable) at 4 ppt (0.004ug/L) for PFOA and PFOS individually. The Australian Drinking Water Guideline is less than 0.07ug/L, and PFOA is less than 0.56ug/L.
Water samples from the Macquarie River at the Water Filtration Plant are all below the ADWG guideline values. Treatment is not expected to improve the levels, so the test results are considered representative of the drinking water.
Council will continue to test our water supply against the current guidelines.
If there is a question regarding the appropriateness of these guidelines, this is a matter for NSW Health and/or the National Health and Medical Research Council.
Please see attached a statement from the industry peak body Water Services Australia which has also responded to the SMH story PFAS and drinking water in Australia | Water Services Association of Australia (wsaa.asn.au)
The WSAA fact sheet can be found here Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Fact Sheet | Water Services Association of Australia (wsaa.asn.au)
ENDS
Media contact: Therese Ryan Manager Corporate Communications P: 02 6333 6202
M: 0437 958 478 E: therese.ryan@bathurst.nsw.gov.au