Experts and water providers are pushing for a ban on “forever chemicals,” also known as PFAS, during a Senate inquiry. They warn that these substances are harmful to the environment and that removing them is getting more complicated and expensive.
Adam Lovell, the executive director of the Water Services Association of Australia, believes that PFAS should be banned in non-essential consumer products. He emphasized the need to reduce the amount of PFAS in the environment as soon as possible. Lovell expressed his concern about the high levels of PFAS entering the country through various everyday items.
The New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) reported that 51 sites in the state are significantly contaminated with PFAS and need ongoing monitoring and cleanup.
Removing PFAS from water and wastewater is becoming a major challenge. Lovell estimated that creating new treatment facilities could cost hundreds of millions of dollars, which may lead to higher water bills for consumers. He highlighted a staggering cost difference: procuring one kilogram of PFAS costs about $150, while treating the same amount in water could run between $4 million and $25 million.
Sydney Water is working on a new thermal treatment facility designed to eliminate PFAS by heating wastewater to extreme temperatures. This process is highly energy-intensive and costly, according to Paul Plowman, the executive general manager.
Dr. Ian Wright from Western Sydney University stated that PFAS can be found everywhere, even in wildlife like platypuses. He noted a rising global awareness of PFAS accumulation in animals, particularly as these chemicals move up the food chain.
Dr. Nicholas Chartres from the University of Sydney urged the government to follow European nations in banning PFAS comprehensively. He warned that replacing specific PFAS chemicals with alternatives has led to similar harmful substances with poorly understood health effects. He advocates banning all PFAS as a class.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are found in many products we use daily. With over 14,000 different compounds, these chemicals are tough to break down and linger in the environment for a long time.
Authorities are also investigating PFAS contamination in two dams located in the Blue Mountains, with preliminary findings expected soon. This contamination may be linked to a petrol tanker crash that occurred in 1992. Recently, WaterNSW disconnected Medlow Dam and Greaves Creek Dam from
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