Low levels of PFAS chemicals detected in Sydney drinking water

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Cancer-linked 'forever chemicals' known as PFAS have been detected for the first time at numerous water filtration plants across Sydney. Some of the results would be considered unsafe under new guidelines being adopted in the US. But Sydney water insists people have no need to worry about the safety of tap water.

Transcript

00:00Hidden in the water of the Blue Mountains are so-called forever chemicals linked to

00:07cancer known as PFAS.

00:10The substance was widely used in firefighting foams and is still found in some beauty and

00:16non-stick products.

00:18It eventually gets into water.

00:20Sydney Water has now released data showing PFAS has been detected across the city's catchments.

00:27There's been such a lot of concern recently in the media about PFAS in drinking water.

00:32We just made a decision for our customers' confidence.

00:36The results show PFAS in filtration plants across Western Sydney, with the worst levels

00:41at Cascade, which supplies 30,000 people at Katoomba and Blackheath.

00:47Some sites south of Sydney, including the Illawarra, were free of the chemical.

00:52The water with PFAS would be considered unsafe in the United States, which has the strictest

00:59regulations.

01:00But authorities here are confident the risks are low.

01:04Sydney's water is safe and it meets those guidelines.

01:07Good on you for doing the tests.

01:09Good on you for releasing.

01:10Why did it take this long?

01:12The National Health and Medical Research Council is currently reviewing the Australian standards.

01:17It says while studies on the impacts on human health are ongoing, people should minimise

01:22their exposure to PFAS.

01:24We can't pre-empt what the review will find.

01:27But scientists have little doubt Australia will follow the US.

01:32The politicians are ducking and weaving in this space.

01:35This is a growing problem.

01:36It's not going to go away.

01:37We need research, we need investment funded by the chemical companies to help us understand

01:45how we might be able to do some environmental remediation into the future.

01:49Animals are also exposed with the chemical discovered in platypuses across NSW.

01:55The fact that these platypuses have PFAS in their liver means that this contamination

02:00is incredibly widespread.

02:02A widespread effort is underway to reassure everyone that Sydney's water is safe to drink.

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