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Click here to find out moreHinchinbrook Shire Council is working closely with the Queensland Government and the water supply regulator to determine the cause of PFAS detected in a bore that was connected to the Lower Herbert water supply. The contaminated bore was isolated immediately and will remain switched off until further notice.
Mayor Jayo has assured residents that the water supply is safe to drink.
“I want to reassure our community members that the town water supply continues to be safe to drink.”
“There is no disruption to the town water supply as a result of the affected bore remaining switched off and Council will continue to update residents as more information comes to hand.”
The bore is one of four bores located in the Macknade Township which supplies water to the Macknade Water Treatment Plant which distributes water to the Lower Herbert region.
Hinchinbrook Shire Council Mayor Ramon Jayo said “Council undertook PFAS testing of Water Reservoirs across the Hinchinbrook water supply network as part of a state wide water quality monitoring program as per the direction earlier this year from Queensland Health. The Ingham, Forrest Beach and Halifax Reservoirs returned clear readings compliant with the national water standards and found no detection of PFAS. However the Lucinda Water Reservoir returned a small amount above the detection limits specified by Queensland Health.”
“Further testing was conducted to identify the source of the potential contamination and these results were received late yesterday afternoon. The test results returned elevated levels in one out of four bores in the Macknade Township. The Townships of Lucinda, Macknade, Halifax, Cordelia, Taylors Beach and Bemerside all receive water from both the Macknade Water Treatment Plant and the Ingham Water Treatment Plants. The bore in question was immediately removed from service and Council is undertaking further testing in consultation with Queensland Health and other Government agencies,” Cr Jayo said.
Hinchinbrook Shire Council is working closely with the Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Health and other State Government departments to determine the source of the potential contamination.
Background:
Per-and Poly-fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that have been widely used since the 1950s in household and industrial products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water.
National health-based guideline values have been established for PFAS in drinking water. These guideline values are very low, and are based on an assumption of lifetime consumption at the maximum tolerable daily intake.
An independent expert health panel established by the Australian Government concluded there is mostly limited, or in some cases no evidence, that human exposure to PFAS is linked with human disease.
For all health related enquiries associated with perfluorinated chemicals please call Queensland Health on 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) or visit the Queensland Government website, https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/pollution/management/investigation-pfas/about.
For all other water supply enquiries please call Council on (07) 4776 4600.