I am very pleased to see the NSW Government disconnecting Medlow Dam from the water supply, given the levels of PFAS, while they do additional testing and monitoring. I hope they are able to identify the source.

When it comes to PFAS and other potentially toxic forever chemicals it’s important that we take them seriously and act with caution.

The discovery of PFAS at Richmond RAAF Base more than seven years ago was the start of my understanding of the potential dangers that these chemicals bring.

Since then, elevated levels of PFAS at North Richmond has highlighted that there are many sources of the chemical.

While the water supply is the responsibility of the NSW Government, the Federal Government sets the national guidelines on safe drinking water. 

The advice is that under those guidelines, our drinking water is safe to drink, and it continues to be tested to ensure it meets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

However, a review of Australia’s drinking water guidelines by the National Health and Medical Research Council is already underway.

What is also concerning are the recent studies that show that animals like platypus will concentrate these types of chemicals in their bodies, making them particularly vulnerable.

This is an issue that I will continue to highlight to the Federal Government as a cause of concern for people in the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury.