Update on Ayr/ Brandon water reticulation - 26 November 2019

Burdekin Shire Council wish to assure residents that all local bores continue to be monitored, tested and blended as required, following the release of further PFAS results.

Recent tests have shown a small increase in the level of PFAS detected in the water supply.  A recent result showed a level of 0.087 ug/l in the water tower, which is just above the national drinking guideline of 0.07 ug/l.

All water within the Ayr and Brandon reticulation network is mixed and blended with other bore fields not effected by PFAS which will result in lower levels than that detected in the Ayr Water Tower.

Following the results, Council is continuing to test individual bores within the Nelson’s Lagoon bore field and levels of PFAS in the Ayr/ Brandon reticulation.

Burdekin Shire Council Director Infrastructure, Planning and Environmental Services Nick Wellwood said continual action was being taken to ensure safe drinking water for the Shire.

“Council is working with various State Government agencies to determine the source of the PFAS within the Nelson’s Lagoon bore field,” Mr Wellwood said.

“At this stage we will have more reliance on the Racecourse bore field which could potentially cause some discolouration in tap water due to higher levels of Ferromanganese in the reticulation. We ask residents to be understanding at this time and we will update them as soon as investigations progress to determine levels of PFAS elsewhere in the Ayr/ Brandon reticulation network following water mixing and blending.

The recent, small increase in the PFAS concentration in the Ayr drinking water supply does not, in itself, make the water unfit for drinking. Queensland Health notes that the Council is endeavouring to take steps to reduce the PFAS concentration in the Ayr drinking water supply to below the guideline level, and to ensure it stays there.

Burdekin Shire Council is working with State Government departments to determine a long-term infrastructure solution for the Ayr water supply.

For more information on Council’s continued Drinking Water Quality Management Plan, visit burdekin.qld.gov.au/water