Contaminated foam in Belubula River

Mounds of contaminated foam have been found repeatedly on the Belubula river, with independent lab testing showing 67,500 times the amount of the toxic chemical PFOS recommended by drinking water guidelines. PFOS is one of the chemicals collectively known as PFAS which have a wide range of industrial uses.

The foam's reappearance comes a year after a community group first called in the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) about the foam in the river they rely on for irrigation. The concern is heightened by evidence fish have been eating the foam which is full of dead insects.

The EPA's response imposed new licence conditions for PFAS monitoring on nearby gold mine Cadia Valley Operations, landscape supplier Australian Native Landscapes and Blayney council landfil who all operate in the Belubula river catchment.

The EPA did some water testing in the river, but community groups noted the testing did not address the toxicity of the foam, its locations on the river, the volume of river flow, or the fish eating the foam.

An independent scientist testing toxic foam in the Belubula River