Katherine residents are demanding a quick fix to their drinking water which contains PFAS chemical contamination from the nearby Tindal RAAF Base.

While health experts say the water remains safe to drink, they have also admitted the test results have “spiked” on occasions above recommended health limits.

A Power and Water official said today a permanent fix could be in place by May next year.

Emergency action was needed – water restrictions and a pilot treatment plant – to maintain PFAS levels at “safe” levels this year.

Residents have told the Katherine Times they want the water crisis fixed before next year’s dry season peak arrives again.

While the Defence Department has told residents it would “take some time” to find a permanent solution to clean up the drinking water, Power and Water was more upbeat today.

Executive general manager water services Robert Brito today said it could be six months or it could take up two years to fix the problem.

“There are a number of factors which will determine how long it will take to implement a medium to long term solution to, depending on whether Power and Water Corporation can site a new borefield, whether a surface water treatment plant expansion is more cost effective, and how long capital works take,” Katherine MLA Sandra Nelson said.

“There is currently an interim solution in place, which will ensure that short of extraordinary events, the level of PFAS in town drinking water will remain below the very conservative guidance values.

“This interim solution is a water treatment facility provided to Power and Water by the Department of Defence that filters perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances from ground water.

“Katherine residents have done a fantastic job in working together on the water conservation measures – this has meant that reduced water consumption which in turn has reduced our reliance on ground water.

“I understand that residents are anxious, I’m a resident of Katherine and just like all other residents, I would love nothing more than to have an immediate provision of long term, sustainable solution for provision of PFAS free water.”

NT Opposition leader Gary Higgins said he had written to the Prime Minister to “reinforce the impacts that the detection of PFAS is having on your community and urging him to consider a range of additional measures to those already in place”.

“The Opposition will continue to work with the Commonwealth, NT government and the Katherine Town Council on behalf of the people of Katherine.

“I also encourage Power and Water to continue to work closely and promptly with the Department of Defence to find a permanent solution to the water supply,” Mr Higgins said.

The Defence Department said it was working with the NT Government to develop interim solutions to minimise the level of PFAS in the town water supply, while longer-term solutions are investigated by the NT Government.

NT Power and Water Corporation is investigating options for long-term solutions for the Katherine town water supply.

These include, but are not limited to:

• finding new bore locations in areas where no PFAS has been detected, and

• upgrading infrastructure so there is no need to rely on bore water and upgrading infrastructure to permanently treat bore water to remove PFAS.

“These solutions are expected to take some time to develop.”