Two crashes and a rural fire station are the likely sources behind “forever chemicals” contaminating reservoirs in NSW’s Blue Mountains.
WaterNSW has conducted the first stage of its investigation into the sources of PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, in the Adams Creek and Medlow catchments.
The investigation found the likely sources of contamination were from historical PFAS-based firefighting foam used in two vehicle accidents on the Great Western Highway in 1992 and 2002 and the Medlow Bath Rural Fire Brigade Station.
“The chemical compound signature identified from the sampling at the three identified locations is consistent with the historical use of in Aqueous Fire Fighting Foam,” WaterNSW said.
The PFAS-based firefighting foam was used nationally.
Fire and Rescue NSW and the Rural Fire Service began phasing out the use of PFAS-based foam in 2000 before it was finally discontinued by 2007.
WaterNSW said the findings suggest that rainfall and surface water runoff are moving the contamination from the upper Adams Creek catchment, where the PFAS levels are higher, downstream to the Medlow/Greaves catchment.
The Medlow Dam and Greaves Creek Dam will remain disconnected from the Blue Mountains water supply system and will only reconnect once appropriate permanent mitigation measures are in place.
NSW Health and Sydney Water advise that the drinking water in the Blue Mountains is safe and meets the national guidelines.
A detailed multi-agency investigation will now take place to help inform of potential remediation options.
PFAS chemicals, dubbed forever chemicals because they never break down, were found in catchments across Sydney, the Blue Mountains and North Richmond in June.
The synthetic chemicals are used in industrial appliances, upholstery, paper coating, cosmetics and sunscreen as they resist heat, stains, grease and water.
These chemicals could potentially be linked to cancer in large doses, but further studies are needed.
