Burdekin council confirms cancer-causing forever chemicals in drinking water

The Burdekin Shire Council has confirmed the presence of cancer-causing “forever chemicals” in its water supply while a second North Queensland council says reports of contamination are not true.

Paul Felesina in 2018 was furious after Burdekin Shire Council revealed PFAS chemicals had been detected in Ayr's water supply bores.

The Burdekin Shire Council has confirmed the presence of cancer-causing “forever chemicals” in its water supply while a second North Queensland council says reports of contamination are not true.

The Burdekin council said on Wednesday morning that it had been aware of the presence of PFAS in the Ayr and Brandon potable water supply, an issue it had been working to fix for a number of years.

A spokesperson said it was working closely with state government agencies, including Queensland Health and the water regulator, to “manage compliance with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) since PFAS was first detected in the town drinking water.”

PFAS or Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances covers an expanse of synthetic organofluorine chemicals that include cancer causing compounds such as PFOS and PFOA that do not degrade over time.

The US Environmental Protection Agency warned earlier this year that there was now no safe PFOS or PFOA in potable water and they were likely to cause cancer.

The reclassification followed World Health Organisation warnings in December last year that PFOA caused cancer in humans.

The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that PFAS had been detected in tap water across Australia, including in regional Queensland.

Its expansive investigation said some of the most “troubling readings” that exceeded Australian and US safety thresholds were in Bundaberg, Ayr and Macknade in Hinchinbrook but noted the issues had been rectified.

The Burdekin council spokesperson said, however, that it had put in place operational changes to reduce the levels of PFAS in its drinking water and had increased the frequency of testing to ensure water supplies were below guideline values.

“Regular testing and monitoring of PFAS levels in potable drinking water supply confirms levels have remained below the ADWG health-based guidelines.”

The spokesperson said the recent announcement of $46.88m of state-government funding its Ayr Water Supply Filtration Plant would enable it to treat water from an “alternative water borefield”.

The said the two-year construction project was set to commence quickly following the awarding of a tender for the project.

“The state government are currently conducting further environmental investigations to identify the source and extent of the contamination,” the spokesperson said.

“Council is proud of the work it has undertaken to date in managing this issue and is dedicated to providing a safe and reliable water supply to Burdekin Shire residents.”

According to the Queensland government, PFAS have been used since the 1950s “in a range of common household products and specialty applications, including in the manufacture of non-stick cookware, fabric, furniture and carpet stain protection applications, and food packaging”.

Hinchinbrook Mayor Ramon Jayo, meanwhile, said that reports its water supply was contaminated with PFAS were not true.

The three-term mayor said he was angered by allegations aired on a television news show that water at Macknade near the Wilmar Sugar mill and at Lucinda were tainted.

“The report started to stir concern happening throughout the district and I began receiving phone calls,” he said.

“There is nothing wrong with our water and I am assuring residents that our potable water is safe.”

Mr Jayo said it was incorrected reported that its water supply in the Lower Herbert contained PFAS, when the affected bore in Macknade had been closed since late 2020.

Originally published as Burdekin council confirms cancer-causing forever chemicals in drinking water