Question Time

Site Contamination, EPA Notification

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:45): I seek leave—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Let the honourable member ask his question.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Thank you, Mr President. I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Environment, Sustainability, and whatever else he is responsible for, a question about the EPA.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: The EPA website lists a number of suburbs where site contamination has been discovered which are listed under either current or past EPA assessment areas. Residents in a number of these areas have been notified by the EPA not to use bores because of the contaminants, but it is unclear whether residents are reminded of this or that notification was made to ensure newer residents are kept informed. For instance, in Beverley, listed as western suburbs on the website, TCE was discovered in 2008 at a concentration of 6,000 micrograms per litre in shallow groundwater. Incidentally, the World Health Organisation's water drinking guideline at the time was 20 micrograms per litre; this was at 6,000 micrograms per litre.

An investigation by SA Health and the EPA revealed significant levels of TCE in several domestic bores. A public health bulletin was published in 2008 and it states there are several bores which were used regularly in that area with a particular concern for direct human exposure via inhalation and dermal contact where the groundwater was extracted and used for irrigation or in swimming pools.

Another example is the suburbs of Keswick, Ashford and Forestville where residents were notified in December 2013 not to use their bores because of a range of chemicals, including TCE, in the groundwater. A report on this preliminary work was expected to be available at the end of May 2014. My questions to the minister are:

1. What process does the EPA have to keep residents informed about the risks to their health from the groundwater contamination or does it rely on the original notification?

2. Has any follow-up testing been conducted in Beverley and adjacent suburbs since 2008? Wouldn't it be prudent to undertake further testing given the high levels of TCE in the shallow groundwater? Has this area been considered for groundwater prohibition notification and, if not, why not?

3. Is a report for Keswick available and, if not, why is there a delay given it was due in May 2014?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:47): I thank the honourable member for his questions. I can advise him that the EPA provides information to residents based on their assessment of risk. The EPA advises where necessary for people with bores not to use those bores and they also advise bore users generally, I am advised, to have their bore water tested at least once every year or every two years.

The honourable member asked me this question in relation to communication to Hendon residents earlier this week and I can advise that letters went out on 14 May 2012 which talked about testing private domestic groundwater bores in the assessment area. In further correspondence to residents they were told on 16 December 2013 as well not to use groundwater for any other purpose until further notice and updated residents about further work to be required, so the EPA does advise residents about usage of bore water based on risks.

In relation to the other areas the honourable member asked about, I will get an answer from the EPA and bring him back that answer as soon as I can.