Testing returns no detection of PFAS in EP water sources

Results from SA Water’s investigative sampling in Eyre Peninsula’s primary drinking water source show no detection of the human-made class of chemicals known as PFAS.

PFAS – or per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances – have been widely used in a range of industrial and consumer products since the 1950s, such as non-stick cookware, stain protection for fabrics, furniture and carpet, in food packaging, water-repellent clothing, cosmetics, sunscreen and predominantly in some types of fire-fighting foams.

PFAS testing within Uley South Basin, as well as two small local underground bores, follows sampling undertaken progressively over the past 12 months at key water sources around South Australia, including the River Murray, Mount Gambier’s Blue Lake and several major reservoirs in metropolitan Adelaide.

SA Water’s Senior Manager of Water Expertise Dr Lionel Ho said testing has now been done within drinking water sources that supply around 98 per cent of the utility’s customers and all results to date have shown no detection of PFAS.
“As with our broader routine water quality testing, our customers can have confidence that the water that comes out of their tap is safe to drink,” Lionel said.

“Catchment assessments undertaken together with our regulator SA Health show a low risk of PFAS contamination in our state’s water supplies, but we identified Uley South Basin as one of the investigative sampling locations, due to its important role in providing drinking water to 35,000 local homes and businesses.

“Once the desalination plant at Billy Lights Point comes online late next year and replaces Uley South as the Eyre Peninsula’s primary water source, we are also happy to advise that the plant will use a technology known as reverse osmosis, which can effectively remove PFAS.”

SA Water also sampled two smaller groundwater bores in the region – Lincoln South and Uley Wanilla – and its North Side Hill water storage tank just out of Port Lincoln. These bores are not currently used to supply drinking water, but can be brought online to supplement supply from Uley South Basin as needed, particularly during high demand periods.

“Following strict protocols to prevent sample contamination, our specialist team from the Australian Water Quality Centre took samples from the outlet of storage tanks that source water from the three borefields and the tank outlet at North Side Hill, which supplies water to the Port Lincoln township.

“The samples were then transported to an independent laboratory for NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities)-accredited testing and analysis.
“Similarly to some of our other underground water sources across the state, a conventional water treatment plant is not required to treat water from Uley South nor other groundwater basins in the Eyre Peninsula, as limestone in the aquifers acts as a natural filter.

“The water is also treated with chlorine using on-site infrastructure, as part of a final disinfection process to ensure the water remains safe to drink before being delivered to our local customers. “

The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (2011) specify limits for four types of PFAS – PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), PFHxS (perfluorohexane sulfonate), PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFBS (perfluorobutane sulfonic acid).
These health-based guidelines were reviewed earlier this year by the National Health and Medical Research Council, resulting in changes for the four PFAS types.

For PFOS the revised limit is less than 0.008 micrograms per litre, for PFHxS it’s less than 0.03 micrograms per litre, for PFOA the new limit is less than 0.2 micrograms per litre, and for PFBS it’s less than 1.0 micrograms per litre.

SA Health Principal Water Quality Adviser Dr David Cunliffe said SA Water’s proactive PFAS sampling adds to its comprehensive water quality testing regime, which involves more than 370,000 laboratory tests carried out each year, or around 1,000 every day.

“SA Water customers can be assured that PFAS testing undertaken to date means their water remains safe to drink,” David said.

“We are also continuing to work with SA Water to determine further investigative sampling locations around the state, as well as the suitability and frequency of subsequent routine testing, starting with major metropolitan reservoirs later this year.”

For more information on SA Water’s PFAS sampling and testing work, including all results to date, visit sawater.com.au.

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