Independent testing finds high levels of unwanted substances in a western NSW river after residents report finding fish covered in sores, but the council says the treated water is safe to drink.
The Namoi River is the main source of drinking water for the Walgett community.A group of Indigenous elders in Walgett , NSW has undertaken independent testing of the river their drinking water comes from.
The Dharriwaa Elders Group in Walgett partnered with Charles Sturt University to test for a number of different substances in the Namoi and Barwon Rivers. "Councils have reason for concern about river water quality as they extract raw water from these rivers before it is treated for human consumption.
"We also found a few metals in the water were higher than expected — aluminium and copper in particular."The report noted three of the pesticides, atrazine, diuron, and a mixture of S and R-metolachlor, were banned in the European Union, but not Australia."That's a really good indicator to go back and have a look at it and see during spring season whether we find higher amounts in the water or not," she said.
Walgett River Water Drinking Water Rose Jackson Minister For Water Elders Dharriwaa Elders Group Dharriwaa Charles Sturt University Csu Research Pesticide Chemicals Metal Fish Safety Aluminium Copper Nitrogen Phosphorus
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