Pumping PFAS-contaminated water from airport expansion into ocean is ‘insanity’, chemical expert says

By Amy Sheehan | ABC News | October 15, 2019

Read the full article by Amy Sheehan (ABC News)

“The Sunshine Coast airport was inundated during heavy rainfall earlier this year, leaving more than 125 million litres of PFAS-contaminated water at the site.

PFAS is a [dangerous] chemical found in firefighting foam.

The Sunshine Coast Council’s proposed plan involves building a pipeline to funnel the contaminated water from the airport construction site and into the nearby ocean at Marcoola.

The pumping was due to begin this weekend, but the council said that had been pushed back while it waited for final approvals, and the commissioning of a water treatment plant at the site.

The plan to pump excess water has infuriated residents and has chemical experts worried.

Dr Mariann Lloyd-Smith, a chemical law expert and adviser to the National Toxic Network, said the notion of pumping PFAS-tainted water was ‘insanity’.

Dr Lloyd-Smith said there was no known way for PFAS to break down, meaning it would stay in the water and contaminate fish…

Concerned resident and lobby group member, Levi Allan, said a large part of the Sunshine Coast community was against council’s proposal.

‘Our community does not want toxic chemicals in our oceans,’ Mr Allan said.

‘We’ve got two petitions that have accumulated 17,000 signatures of people who are against this already.’ …

When questioned if the lobby group had an alternative suggestion to dumping the contaminated water, Mr Allan said that was the council’s responsibility.

‘I think our council are meant to be the ones in there looking for alternative solutions to this, and if they need the community to do their jobs for them, then they shouldn’t be in the position they’re in,’ Mr Allan said…

Deputy Mayor Tim Dwyer said no water released from the site would pose any risk to the environment or the community, and the council was working closely with the state environmental regulators.

Cr Dwyer said dry weather had reduced the amount of water on the site, and that even if it was able to build the pipe, it might not need to be used…

‘That’s the best we can do to tell you the truth — in some cases the water on the site is a better quality than water outside of the site.’ …

Earlier this year, Councillor Jason O’Pray released a video of him drinking water from a drain he said contained contaminated water from the airport site.

‘This is rain water, this is fresh water, this is clean water,’ he said between sips…

Greens spokesperson Daniel Bryar said he was not willing to take council’s word the contaminated water would not do harm to the environment.

‘One of the issues we have with this council is their complete and utter lack of transparency in a lot of things,’ Mr Bryar said.

Mr Bryar said so far council had failed to consult with residents and the scientific community about its decision…

‘The science we have in Australia has been largely looked down upon by the international community and Australia has a very low level of concern for the chemicals in question,’ Mr Bryar said.

‘In other developed nations there’s a very high level of concern’…”

This content provided by the PFAS Project.