Water supply results revealed after PFAS chemicals detected
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Biloela’s town water supply has been declared safe to drink, following the detection of PFAS chemicals in a nearby creek.
Banana Shire Council developed a public health monitoring program after CS Energy advised it had detected levels of PFAS chemicals in and around bores at Callide Creek and groundwater and surface water at Callide Power Station.
The program monitored all bores and main sources that provided water to the Biloela community.
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PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) levels were also present in the bores and surface intakes from the Callide Dam but were significantly below drinking water standards.
Banana Shire Mayor Nev Ferrier said it was a relief to the whole Biloela community the PFAS levels had not “adversely” impacted the town’s drinking water.
“It will be a relief that the higher than expected levels of PFAS in some parts of the water table have not adversely impacted on the town drinking water,” Mr Ferrier said.
“It is reassuring to see that our existing water quality procedures are working effectively.”
Banana Shire Council engaged local firm, CQG Consulting, to undertake the program which included an investigation of the groundwater network to identify any potential impacts to the town’s water quality.
Read more:Fear residents could have been using toxic water for years
Sampling was conducted with initial results showing all samples collected from bores, raw water intakes and standpipes, had concentrations of PFAS well below the human health guideline values for drinking water.
The final analysis results verified the initial findings.
These results are consistent with previous monitoring for PFAS undertaken by the council in 2018 and 2019, demonstrating the impact from the PFAS findings at and downstream of the power station had not impacted on drinking water sources of the Biloela township.
A detailed report for PFAS/PFOS was delivered to Banana Shire Council on February 19.
