High levels of chemical contaminants have been found Katherine’s public swimming pool.
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Katherine’s pool is perilously close to the upper limit of safe PFAS levels.
On September 7 the YMCA pool recorded a level of 0.6 mircograms per litre.
On September 11, 0.54 mircograms per litre was recorded.
Drinking water has a 0.07 micrograms per litre daily limit while recreational water, like the pool and hot springs, have a 0.7 limit.
The testing at the YMCA pool has returned, what is believed to be, the highest level of PFAS ever detected in Katherine.
Several Katherine Town Council facilities are being tested for PFAS contamination by Defence Department contractors Coffey Consultants.
Power and Water last week released results of testing of the town’s drinking water which found tap water to be 0.02 and the bores which supply the treatment were 0.23 micrograms per litre.
Testing completed at the Katherine Hot Springs returned levels of 0.04, 0.05 and 0.04, all well within the safe limits.
Katherine Town Council said the latest results were part of a “regime of testing now underway on Council facilities that may have levels of PFAS that could impact on human health”.
“The results of the recent test at the Katherine YMCA Pool has confirmed water quality levels within the recommended thresholds for recreational water use for PFAS,” a council spokeswoman said.
“All testing to date has been performed by Coffey (Department of Defence consultants) as part of the overall investigation of PFAS use at RAAF Tindal Base in the Katherine Township.
“Ongoing monitoring and public reporting of all facilities is planned.”