The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is requiring further sampling and analysis at Veolia’s Woodlawn Eco-Precinct after assessments identified potential seepages from two onsite wastewater collection dams.
The works will include the installation of five additional strategically located groundwater monitoring bores, as well as onsite pollutant monitoring.
This follows a Hydrogeological Risk Assessment (HRA), prepared as part of Veolia’s updated licence requirements, that identified wastewater from the dams potentially seeping into the site’s groundwater system and possibly into nearby waterways.
In addition, the EPA will also conduct some surface and ground water monitoring in May in waterways including Crisps Creek and Allianoyonyiga Creek, as well as in Veolia groundwater bores.
NSW EPA Director Adam Gilligan said this was in response to two EPA samples taken from the creeks within in the Eco Precinct that found small detections of a range of chemicals commonly found in landfills, including PFAS chemicals and metals.
“We want to reassure the community that these detections pose no immediate health risk, as the results are within the current Australian Drinking Water Guidelines health-based limits, noting that neither creek is a direct drinking water source,” Mr Gilligan said.
“Testing also found some minor exceedances of relevant guideline values for livestock and freshwater species in both creeks on the Eco Precinct site and we will now be undertaking further sampling to determine whether there are any elevated levels offsite and to determine next steps.
“Elevated levels of metals are also not unexpected in streams and creeks that flow through rural environments, and water quality issues are more commonplace in drought and dry periods when salinity, pH and chemicals can reach higher than normal concentrations and algal blooms can occur in surface water."
The presence of PFAS in the environment does not necessarily indicate that there is a health risk, however identifying sites that require investigation is an important precaution to reduce the risk of community exposure to PFAS.
NSW Health advises that water from rivers, creeks and groundwater should not be used for drinking or cooking and personal hygiene (including cleaning teeth and bathing) without testing and appropriate treatment including disinfection. Untreated water may contain disease causing micro-organisms, chemical contaminants or algal blooms.
Updates will be shared through the Veolia Community Liaison Committee and on the EPA website.
For more information from NSW Health about surface water and groundwater visit: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/water/Pages/drinking-water.aspx
Information about water requirements for livestock are available from DPIRD: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/about-us/services/laboratory-services/water-quality/farm-water-testing
If you are interested in understanding or testing the quality of surface water on your property and its suitability for livestock visit: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/about-us/services/laboratory-services/water-quality
Contact details:
EPA MEDIA | TESS GIBNEY | 0456 053 522
24-hour Media Line (02) 9995 6415 [email protected]
