Two rural households in the Penshurst region were yesterday advised that preliminary test results have shown higher than acceptable levels of perfluorinated compounds in the shallow ground water that they use on their properties.
Environment Protection Authority Victoria’s (EPA) Executive Director of Regional Services, Damian Wells, reiterated advice from Wannon Water last week that the town water supply, which is sourced from much deeper groundwater, is safe to drink.
The groundwater testing is being undertaken to better understand any impacts on the environment from perfluorinated compounds that have historically been used by CFA at its regional training centres.
The Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) is working with the CFA, EPA and Southern Rural Water to assess any potential health risk to residents near Penshurst who may have inadvertently drunk affected bore water.
DHHS advice is that untreated groundwater from bores should never be used for human consumption.
The two householders were advised that all use of bore water should be avoided until further notice and were offered alternative water sources if required.
Further information is being collected from the households so appropriate public health advice can be provided to them.
Follow up testing of existing bore water in the area will be immediately undertaken to confirm the initial test results. These results are expected early next week.
CFA will also seek to establish new groundwater wells to undertake a comprehensive sampling regime around the Penshurst CFA training centre, consistent with the EPA’s draft statutory Clean Up Notice issued to CFA under section 62A of the Environment Protection Act 1970.
EPA will continue to work with CFA, Southern Rural Water, Wannon Water and Southern Grampians Shire Council to ensure that timely information is provided to the community.
If community members have concerns about their drinking water, they should call Wannon Water on: 1300 926 666.
If community members have concerns about their ground water they should call Southern Rural Water on: 1300 139 510.
If community member have concerns about their previous involvement with the Penshurst site please call CFA: 1800 628 616.