The state's environment watchdog has confirmed the presence of poisonous heavy metal contamination in the water of a Port Kembla drain, after local campaigners raised the alarm about pollution in October.
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The NSW Environment Protection Authority says it will conduct a six month sampling and testing program at Darcy Road drain at Port Kembla, to monitor water quality following preliminary testing.
The testing was prompted by Port Kembla resident Jess Whittaker, who took a water sample from the drain two months ago after noticing "funny looking" water flowing into it.
She sent this to be analysed by University of Western Sydney water scientist Dr Ian Wright, who told her he was stunned by the levels of pollution.
Contaminants found included arsenic, lead, copper, zinc and uranium, and the EPA said it would launch an investigation.
This week, the EPA said results of preliminary water sampling showed levels for most metal samples were "significantly lower" than the results provided in October by Ms Whittaker, however others were "slightly higher".
Aluminium, iron and lead were considerably lower, while nickel and selenium were slightly higher.
"Some metals, including copper, manganese and zinc exceeded the national water quality guidelines but are not higher than the results the community attained," the EPA said.
With water quality known to change over time, Executive Director Metro Operations Steve Beaman said the EPA had committed to a six month sampling program to further define the potential sources.
"We know that water quality is important to the local community; it is important to us too and we appreciate their interest and look forward to working together and for them to be involved in the sampling program," Mr Beaman said.
In addition, the EPA will require further water quality studies to be completed by the two licensed industrial premises permitted to discharge into the drain.
The results of these studies and the sampling program will inform any future actions the EPA said.
Ms Whittaker said the monitoring program was "a really good result" as previously no one had been paying attention to the pollution.
"I also hope it leads to physical remediation work on the sites around the drain, so this stops being a concern," she said.
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Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
