Tarcutta Drinking Water Supply (Riverina Water)
December 2024
Bore 4: PFHxS 0.0018ug/L, PFOS 0.002ug/L
Bore 5: PFBS 0.0028ug/L PFHxS 0.013ug/L PFOS 0.014ug/L
October 2024
Treated Water: PFOA 0.0011ug/L, PFHxS 0.017ug/L, PFOS 0.0149ug/L
Bore 4: Not Detected
Bore 5: PFOA 0.001ug/L, PFBS 0.001ug/L, PFHxS 0.014ug/L, PFOS 0.014ug/L
Tarcutta Creek: Not Detected
Alert issued after testing detects PFAS in NSW village water supply
North West Star by Finn Coleman Nov 12 2024
PFAS has been detected in a NSW Riverina community’s water supply but residents have been assured there is no cause for concern.
Riverina Water said there had been a low-level detection of PFAS substances in the Tarcutta’s water supply but the water was safe to drink and within all health guidelines.
PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of over 4000 chemicals, with some of them effective at resisting heat, stains, grease and water.
Riverina Water chief executive Andrew Crakanthorp said as part of its ongoing management of PFAS contamination, the utility company participated in a round of expanded testing funded by NSW Health.
Riverina Water confirmed 15 nanograms per litre (ng/l) of the substance PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) to be in the Tarcutta treated water supply.
“The result is within the current Australian Drinking Water Guidelines limits, but above proposed new guidelines,” Mr Crakanthorp said.
The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines are health-based levels for numerous water quality measures, including PFAS substances.
The health guidelines for PFAS substances are based on long-term exposure over a lifetime.
Tarcutta’s water supply is an independent system sourced from two groundwater bores in the village.
Follow-up testing identified one of the bores as the source of the detection, and it has been taken offline.
Mr Crakanthorp said Riverina Water’s highest priority was the health of the Tarcutta community and providing safe drinking water.
“We’ll keep the Tarcutta community informed on this issue,” he said.
“Please be assured we will be working with NSW government agencies to continue to meet all health guidelines, including investigating the source of the detection and exploring available options.”
As part of the testing funded by NSW Health, all Riverina Water treatment plants have been tested except Urana, which is not yet online for the summer season.
PFAS substances have not been detected in the treated water at any other locations in the supply network.