The NSW Government is continuing work to ensure Blue Mountains communities are confident that their drinking water supply is safe and reliable, with Sydney Water commissioning an advanced PFAS treatment system at the Cascade Water Filtration Plant (WFP).
The innovative mobile treatment system that uses Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) and ion exchange resin, proven filtration technologies that aim to significantly reduce PFAS levels in drinking water.
Installation of the new system is already underway, with full operation expected by the end of 2024. Early treatment results will be available in early 2025, providing critical data as Sydney Water prepares for the anticipated reduction in PFAS limits as proposed in the draft Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG), which are set to be finalised in April 2025.
In October, the NSW Government welcomed the National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) release of proposed new drinking water guidelines, recommending lower PFAS levels in drinking water across Australia.
The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines are developed nationally and adopted by states and territories. Once the final PFAS guidelines are published, Sydney Water will continue to work with NSW Health to ensure compliance across its network while continuing to monitor PFAS levels at Cascade WFP, which remain within current guidelines.
Drinking water that meets current guidelines is safe to consume. All catchment-sourced water undergoes thorough treatment and stringent testing before being delivered to homes.
Sydney Water, in conjunction with the state's water authorities will continue to actively pursue opportunities to enhance water quality, maintaining a proactive approach to reducing PFAS levels.
NSW Minister for Water, Rose Jackson said:
"It is important that communities are confident in the knowledge that they have access to safe and secure water, and this new technology will help us in those efforts.
"We will continue to support our water authorities across the state to deliver the highest quality drinking water to every home and business."
"All drinking water that meets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines remains safe to drink."
Sydney Water Managing Director, Roch Cheroux said:
"This initiative reinforces Sydney Water's promise to deliver safe, clean, and reliable water to all our customers.
"While PFAS treatment is still an evolving field, we are leading the way with new ideas, such as this one, to ensure the continued delivery of world-class drinking water across the Sydney Water network.
"GAC effectively adsorbs contaminants through its porous structure, while ion exchange resin swaps unwanted ions, such as PFAS, with safer ions, to significantly improve drinking water quality."
Member for Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle said:
"I welcome this new treatment system and am heartened to know that a whole-of-Government agency approach is focused on stringent testing and safeguarding delivery of safe water to the Blue Mountains."
