The decision to close Katherine’s swimming pool has been validated by another high PFAS result.
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Katherine Town Council today released the latest result, this time from a test in the middle of last month taken from the pool.
The pool was closed on October 5 after a test result recorded 0.84 micrograms per litre.
The safe level of PFAS for recreational water use is 0.7 micrograms per litre.
Drinking water’s upper limit is 0.07.
The latest test result from the swimming pool, from October 11, was 0.7, again confirming the unsafe levels of PFAS in the water.
Council also posted a series of results today from its extensive network of bores – some of the PFAS results are the highest ever made public.
Two of the bores were above 1.
”As a precautionary measure, where the readings show any detectable level of PFAS, council will identify and implement measures to reduce potential exposure of the water to the community as a matter of priority,” the council said today.
The civic centre’s bore, on the supposedly safe side of the river, also recorded a high PFAS number, 0.2.
”We asked for clarification from the Department of Defence, who provided the statement below,” the council said.
“This deep bore is within the original investigation area and is the only detectable result on the western side of the Katherine River. It may be impacted due to deep flow from the eastern side of the river going under the river before discharging through springs on the western side. The shallow bore on the same property was a non-detect. Sampling was done through the sprinkler system as there was no direct bore access, so the influence of the pipes is also being considered. Defence is investigating other deep bores in the area to confirm the limited extent next to the river. Most private bores in the area are shallow, and none that have been tested have detected PFAS.”
Council bore results:
- Sports Grounds Bore 3 – 1.06
- Museum - 0.15
- Roney Park – 0.56
- Sports Grounds Bore 1 – 0.54 and 1.08
- Grevillea Park – 0.46
- Waste Management Facility – 0.14 and 0.06
- Dakota Park – 0.19
- Lockheed Park – 0.16
- Showgrounds Big – 0.35
- Showgrounds Small – 0.24
- Jukes Park – 0.2
- Police Bore – 1.16
- Civic Centre Big – 0.2
- Civic Centre Small – not detected
Of course since the pool test was taken, the pool has been emptied of almost a million litres of water which was pumped into the nearby sewer.
After the October 5 shock, council had hoped to re-open the pool within two weeks but now there is still no date given for the re-opening.
Katherine residents have been directed to use the Tindal RAAF Base pool which has been offered free of charge.
The Katherine Town Council says filters, sludge from tanks and other contaminated residue from the pool will be placed in drums and disposed of at Tindal.
The department told us they are creating a PFAS holding area at Tindal using shipping containers.
No authority has disputed the claim that the testing at the YMCA pool returned what is believed to be the highest level of PFAS ever made public in Katherine.