A looming crisis threatens the very water we drink. Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ known as PFAS are proliferating in water supplies nationwide, sparking fears of widespread contamination and adverse health effects. Now, water providers are sounding the alarm, urgently calling for a broad ban on PFAS to safeguard public health and protect precious water resources.
The Insidious Threat of PFAS
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of over 14,000 synthetic chemicals used in countless consumer and industrial products. Prized for their durability and water resistance, PFAS have a dark side – they persist in the environment for decades, earning them the chilling moniker “forever chemicals”.
These pervasive pollutants have infiltrated water supplies through industrial discharges, firefighting foam, and everyday products like nonstick cookware and stain-resistant fabrics. The full extent of PFAS contamination is still unfolding, but the evidence is damning:
- 51 sites in NSW alone have significant PFAS contamination requiring ongoing monitoring and cleanup, according to the state EPA
- PFAS have been detected in wildlife like platypuses, accumulating up the food chain with unknown ecological consequences
- Removing PFAS from water is becoming increasingly difficult and costly, with new treatment plants expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars
The Battle to Ban PFAS
Faced with this alarming reality, water providers are joining scientists and advocates in demanding a blanket ban on PFAS in non-essential products. As Adam Lovell of the Water Services Association of Australia warned, “We’re deeply concerned about the levels of PFAS that are being allowed to enter the country through thousands of everyday household and industrial chemicals and products.”
Experts argue that phasing out specific PFAS is not enough, as it has led to “similarly hazardous replacements” with poorly understood health impacts. Dr. Nicholas Chartres of the University of Sydney urged Australia to follow the EU in backing a broad PFAS ban, stating unequivocally: “We need to ban them as a class.”
The High Cost of Inaction
The stakes could not be higher. PFAS have been linked to a range of serious health problems including cancer, immune dysfunction, and developmental issues. In a bombshell move, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified PFOA, a widely used PFAS compound, as a known human carcinogen in 2023.
Removing these tenacious toxins from water is a herculean and expensive undertaking. Installing just one thermal treatment plant to destroy PFAS is “extremely energy intensive and very, very expensive,” cautioned Paul Plowman of Sydney Water. The ballooning costs of PFAS treatment threaten to burden ratepayers with skyrocketing water bills.
“Wherever we look, we find it. There’s a growing worldwide awareness that PFAS is accumulating in wildlife, and particularly as we go up to different levels in the food chain.”
Dr. Ian Wright, Western Sydney University
A Watershed Moment
Australia stands at a critical juncture. With new drinking water guidelines set to be finalized this year, experts are split on whether to adopt stricter U.S. limits on PFAS or maintain Australia’s current standards. But all agree – the status quo is no longer acceptable.
The disturbing case of PFAS contamination in the Blue Mountains, with authorities still investigating potential links to a 1992 tanker crash, underscores the urgent need for transparency and action. Residents left in the dark about the levels of PFAS in their drinking water are rightfully outraged and fearful for their health.
As the Senate inquiry unfolds, one thing is certain – Australia can no longer afford to ignore the PFAS crisis. The price of inertia is too steep: tainted water, broken trust, and a toxic legacy for generations to come. It is time to heed the warnings of water providers, scientists, and advocates, and enact a comprehensive ban on PFAS before it’s too late. The wellbeing of our water, wildlife, and communities hangs in the balance.
