TWO toxins have been identified in groundwater in the Millicent district, triggering an official warning by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to over 170 landowners.
The EPA has issued a warning to 177 property owners within a 2km area north-west of Miland Treated Timbers on Saleyards Road, where the State Government agency recorded arsenic and hexavalent chromium in groundwater.
The letter, signed off by EPA site contamination manager Andrew Pruszinski, said the two chemicals had been identified in groundwater at the site and immediately off-site.
“These chemicals are typically used in the treatment of timber and, at this stage, the full nature and extent of the impact to groundwater is not known,” he said.
He said the EPA had licensed Miland since 1995.
“Timber preservation has occurred at the Millicent site since the 1980s, which is before the establishment of the EPA.
“The EPA advises the groundwater is likely to be moving in a westerly direction.”
Mr Pruszinski said groundwater users should follow SA Water advice and have their bores tested every two to three years.
“Mains water and water from rainwater tanks are not affected by this contamination and home-grown fruit and vegetables are safe to consume provided they are not being watered with contaminated bore water.”
According to an affected Millicent resident, the possibility of contaminated groundwater might prove to be expensive and inconvenient.
They said the water testing was at their own cost and there was the possibility they might have to sink new bores on farmland for stock watering points.
“We have fruit trees and we might not be able to use them if the water is contaminated,” they said.
“I have spoke to Wattle Range Council about this.
“The council would have originally approved this timber treatment plant.”
Wattle Range Council engineering services director Peter Halton said the EPA was the lead agency in this contamination matter and council was liaising with it.
The South Eastern Times put a number of questions to the EPA and a statement was issued by a spokesperson.
“The EPA regularly reminds bore users across South Australia that EPA and SA Health advice is they should test their bore water on a regular basis to ensure it is safe,” the spokesperson said.
“The EPA considered it timely to remind residents of the importance of testing their bore water after learning that a new bore had been drilled recently near the (Miland) site.
“The EPA has been regulating the Miland site by requiring the owners to undertake further assessment since the first notification of contamination at the site under s83A of the Environment Protection Act in 2012.
“The EPA holds evidence that contamination has been found just off the site at a groundwater monitoring well on the road verge and has asked the owners to undertake further assessment.”
According to the EPA statement, the source of the contamination is a timber preservation chemical that has been used on the site for many years.
“The chemical has leached through the soil into underlying groundwater.
“The EPA can require assessment and if necessary remediation, which means to treat, contain, remove or manage the contamination.
“Responsibility for site contamination is assigned according to the ‘polluter pays’ principle – this means the original polluter is liable for any clean-up and associated costs caused on and off the source site, regardless of when it was caused.
“The EPA administers and enforces the EP Act to ensure responsible parties undertake this work appropriately.
“If this is not undertaken to the satisfaction of the EPA then an Environment Protection Order may be issued.”
The South Eastern Times has approached Miland for comment.
