AUTHORITIES are continuing to test for the source of the PFAS contamination in Svensson Heights’ town water supply.
A Queensland Health spokesman said the latest round of retesting had confirmed all Bundaberg Regional Council drinking water being supplied to residents in Bundaberg, including in Svensson Heights, was well within drinking water guidelines.
Samples from 20 locations were found to contain levels of PFAS within the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
Seven other samples also taken close to the landfill were below the national drinking water guideline value, indicating the test above the guidelines was from a localised contamination, presenting no risk to the health of locals.
While the Svensson Heights environmental investigation is still ongoing, the state’s latest environmental sampling results detected low or nil PFOS and PFHxS levels in samples taken of surface water, ground water and soil.
To identify the potential sources of contamination, the spokesman said government agencies had sampled a broad area, using 21 existing bores – in addition to the contaminated Dr Mays Rd bore – around the area where contamination was initially detected on April 12.
Based on the environmental sampling information currently available, the Queensland Government says it has reason to believe some PFAS is entering surface water in the vicinity of the airport and the industrial estate.
Even though concentrations recorded were below drinking water guidelines, the Queensland Healthspokesman said the finding creates a need for more detailed environmental sampling within the vicinity of the airport and industrial estate.
He said the Queensland Government would be working with Bundaberg Regional Council on further sampling to help find potential sources of the contamination.
As part of this detailed investigation, government agencies will look at the flow of groundwater in the area to help in determining the source of contamination across different sites.