UPDATE: The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has just announced an urgent survey of homes in Medlow Bath this week following alarming new tests revealing extraordinarily high levels of PFAS contamination. This action comes in response to community concerns over potential health risks associated with contaminated water sources.
The EPA will be surveying 15 residential properties to assess how residents may be using a small drainage line bordering their homes. An EPA spokesperson stated, “We’ll be asking residents if they access this drainage line for uses such as watering vegetable gardens or fruit trees. Answers will determine if sampling is required.” Results from any sampling conducted will be shared with residents, along with precautionary advice.
These latest developments follow shocking revelations from Jon Dee, a member of the advocacy group STOP PFAS Blue Mountains, who declared Medlow Bath as the “epicentre of PFAS contamination in the Blue Mountains.” New tests conducted by Professor Ian Wright found that running water in central Medlow Bath contained PFOS + PFHxS levels exceeding 3,000 ng/L, significantly above the safety guidelines established by the National Health and Medical Research Council for recreational water.
Dee emphasized the gravity of the situation: “Because this water flows into Adams Creek and then into our drinking water dams, this result again confirms that our drinking water has been PFAS-contaminated for more than 32 years.” Furthermore, sediment testing from a swamp in Medlow Bath revealed PFAS contamination at “an extraordinarily high level,” attributed to firefighting foam used during the infamous 1992 Medlow Bath petrol tanker fire.
Despite the contamination findings, the EPA reassured residents that tap water remains “safe to use.” The spokesperson noted that drinking water from the Cascades Water Filtration Plant is tested weekly by Sydney Water, with results available online. They clarified, “Discovering PFAS in the environment does not necessarily mean there is a risk to human health, but it is important to assess if there are exposure pathways.”
This urgent situation has reignited calls from Dee for free PFAS blood testing for Blue Mountains residents. A state parliamentary committee recommended in September that individuals exposed to high PFAS levels should be offered these tests, potentially affecting thousands of residents who have been drinking contaminated water. The committee, chaired by Greens MLC Cate Faehrmann, noted that “given the Blue Mountains community may have been drinking PFAS contaminated water for over 30 years,” blood testing would be beneficial at both individual and population levels.
The contamination crisis stems from a tragic incident where a petrol tanker crash in 1992 was extinguished with PFAS-containing foam. A subsequent accident in 2002 employed the same method, compounding the issue and leading to long-term water contamination.
Residents of Medlow Bath are urged to stay informed and participate in the EPA’s survey this week to better understand the implications of the PFAS contamination. As these developments unfold, the community’s health and safety remain a top priority. Stay tuned for more updates as the situation progresses.
