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The Banana Shire Council has voted to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair an ageing sewage treatment plant as some of its components reach the end of their life.
Taroom’s sewage treatment plant (STP) is now 50 years old and only minor upgrades, such as replacing the inlet screen, have been done throughout its lifespan.
The trickling filter is now reaching the end of its useful life, according to the council.
Director of council services Chris Welch told the ordinary council meeting on April 28 additional funding was needed to engineer the foundations correctly, due to unforeseen circumstances.
PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) levels were also present in the bores and surface intakes from the Callide Dam but were significantly below drinking water standards. Banana Shire Council developed a monitoring program after CS Energy detected PFAS chemicals in the town’s water supply.
Banana Shire Mayor Nev Ferrier said it was a relief to the whole Biloela community the PFAS levels had not “adversely” impacted the town’s drinking water.
“It will be a relief that the higher than expected levels of PFAS in some parts of the water table have not adversely impacted on the town drinking water,” Mr Ferrier said.
Water supply results revealed after PFAS chemicals detected themorningbulletin.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from themorningbulletin.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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Toxic PFAS chemicals have been detected in groundwater near the Callide power station at Biloela, CS Energy has announced.
Found in a wide range of consumer products according to the EPA, PFAS chemicals can lead to cancer, thyroid hormone disruption, effects on the immune system and low birth weights.
“PFAS chemicals can accumulate and stay in the human body for long periods of time,” the EPA states.
A voluntary testing program by CS Energy, who run the Callide Power Station, found levels “less than two times over the drinking water guideline” at a monitoring station near the Linkes Road crossing.