Assurances have been provided by South East Queensland Water (SEQ Water) that the water is safe for consumption and complies with the standards set by Australia, which vary from those of other countries.
The persistent chemicals, also referred to as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), are man-made substances present in various products such as pesticides and fire extinguishing foam.
“We are required to comply with the Australian drinking water guidelines, not the US drinking guidelines.”
The guidelines for PFOA in drinking water are presently under review in Australia with expectations of lowering the permitted levels to 200 parts per trillion next year, although this would still be 50 times higher than the limits set in the United States.
“We need to start matching the safety levels of America if we’re serious about protecting people from these chemicals in drinking water,” Dee said.
