A Katherine mother will not let her children near the town swimming pool after unsafe levels of chemicals were detected in the water.
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Merlyn Smith said she is angry the pool was not closed while tests were being done.
“My son had his first swim at the pool last year and now I am saying to myself, what were you thinking,” Ms Smith said.
“We know the pool has gone above safe levels, who knows what those levels were last year or the year before.”
The safe level of PFAS for recreational water use is 0.7 micrograms per litre.
The public swimming pool has recorded readings of 0.84.
Ms Smith said she does not believe our town leaders are fighting for Katherine residents.
“Sadly no they are not. They are fighting to close ranks. They are being about as clear as mud,” Ms Smith said.
“I want to see daily testing being done and we should have access to those results.
“I feel so boxed in and limited.”
Katherine Town Council CEO Robert Jennings said as an interim solution the pool would be closed for a fortnight while other sources of water were secured to replenish the pool and further testing would be undertaken.
I would need a lobotomy if I would let my kids swim in there again
- Merlyn Smith
Ms Smith said she had received backlash from other residents for speaking up on the issue.
“People say to me close your mouth you are going to scare off the tourists but what kind of host serves up toxic water to its visitors. Even if the water is in safe limits, it is still contaminated and we need to tell people what is in the water,” Ms Smith said.
“I have been here since 1989, my kids have been exposed to these chemicals for their whole lives. The pool is just another exposure pathway, they have been absorbing these toxic chemicals.
“If we are told to reduce our exposure to PFAS, why would I let my family swim in it. I would need a lobotomy if I were to let my kids swim in there again.”
Ms Smith said all residents should be supplied with bottled drinking water as a precaution.
“I want them to turn the taps off. How insulting that we are being put on water restrictions and not being supplied with bottled water, where is the duty of care? There is no protection,” Ms Smith said.
Dean Milner swims at the public pool every second day.
“I got a message from a mate at about 2am in the morning telling me the pool had been closed,” Mr Milner said.
“I love swimming, and hearing the pool was contaminated got the mind thinking. You see the swim club doing laps in there for like three hours.”
Mr Milner said he will continue to swim despite levels of PFAS in the town pool.
“I’m not freaking out. There is real concern in the community but there are also people just getting on with their lives,” he said.
“I am more than happy to keep swimming at the pool, I need to keep my dad body in shape.
“I think the council did the right thing closing the pool and they are doing a good job at managing the issue. I think as long as people know what is going on they can make up their own minds.”
