West Lakes
On 19 August 2020, the EPA was notified of test results in soil collected at the former Port Adelaide Waste Water Treatment Plant, and in groundwater monitoring bores offsite that are located in reserves and other public land. The results showed per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) above relevant guidelines.
The EPA advises that groundwater (bore water) in the West Lakes assessment area is contaminated and should not be used for any purpose.
Lake water, tap water and rainwater are not affected.
Previous work undertaken by the EPA has included a program to sample the lake water, groundwater, fish and crustaceans. These reports are available from the document library on this site.
If you have any feedback, questions or concerns, please contact us on:
- Ph: (08) 8429 7554
On 19 August 2020, the EPA was notified of test results in soil collected at the former Port Adelaide Waste Water Treatment Plant, and in groundwater monitoring bores offsite that are located in reserves and other public land. The results showed per- and poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) above relevant guidelines.
The EPA advises that groundwater (bore water) in the West Lakes assessment area is contaminated and should not be used for any purpose.
Lake water, tap water and rainwater are not affected.
Previous work undertaken by the EPA has included a program to sample the lake water, groundwater, fish and crustaceans. These reports are available from the document library on this site.
If you have any feedback, questions or concerns, please contact us on:
- Ph: (08) 8429 7554
Please ask us a question
Please ask us a question and we will get back to you. Posting your question here allows other visitors to the site to view your question and our answer. If you would like to ask a question privately, please email us.
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Hi i got a epa flyer about west lakes soil contamination. Community update #1 issued 24 august 2020 On page 6 there is a picture of west lakes community engagement area. Is the "community engagement area " the known areas where sludge was distributed? We are in mcdonald grove west lakes. Is this street in the area of contamination? Thank u dee
Dee asked over 3 years agoHello Dee
Thank you for your question, and thank you for sharing it here so others can also see it and the response.
The community engagement area shown on the map is approximately 700 homes, and is the distribution boundary for the community update. The number of properties impacted by sludge is just under 200 properties, and these have not been identified for the protection of the privacy of those residents.
All residents who are impacted have been sent a letter that outlines their specific situation in addition to this community update, and have been provided with a copy of the report on the work undertaken in 2001 by the state government (where this offer was accepted).
I hope that clarifies your query - please don't hesitate to let us know if there's anything else we can help you with.
Kind regards, Environment Protection Authority
#distributionboundary#distributionboundary
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Reports
- West Lakes environvmental assessment - Stage 1, July 2021 (13 MB) (pdf)
- Groundwater monitoring report, December 2020 (517 KB) (pdf)
- Groundwater study report, November 2020
- Fish testing results, September 2020 (499 KB) (pdf)
- Fish testing lab analysis, September 2020 (9.71 MB) (pdf)
- Water quality monitoring results, September 2020 (483 KB) (pdf)
Community updates
- West Lakes & Royal Park Stage 1 work results - community update 2, August 2021 (850 KB) (pdf)
- West Lakes community info session, 4 February 2021 (420 KB) (pdf)
- Community update, 9 December 2020 (882 KB) (pdf)
- EPA Assessment Area MAP, 9 December 2020 (2.23 MB) (pdf)
- Community update, 24 August 2020 (972 KB) (pdf)
Historical Timeline
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1970: West Lakes created
West Lakes has finished this stageWest Lakes was created from reclaimed land, creating open spaces, residential developments and waterways.
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2000: soil testing undertaken by City of Charles Sturt
West Lakes has finished this stageIn 2000, sewage sludge from the former Port Adelaide Waste Water Treatment Plant was found to contain cadmium, affecting nearly 200 residential homes.
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2001: Department of Human Services recommended measures to make properties safe
West Lakes has finished this stageIn The Department of Human Services recommended various measures be put in place to prevent or reduce exposure to this sludge, such as paving, concreting, lawns, mulch, gravel or soil for vegetable gardens.
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2001: state government funds work
West Lakes has finished this stageThe state government offered to fund and implement these measures on a property-specific basis. If the previous owner of the property agreed, a copy of the site specific report was created for future owners.
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19 August 2020: EPA notified of PFAS contamination
West Lakes has finished this stageOn 19 August 2020 the EPA was notified of per-and-poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater (bore water), soils and sewage sludge at or near the former Port Adelaide Waste Water Treatment Plant.
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24 August 2020: EPA notifies community
West Lakes has finished this stageThe EPA has written to the West Lakes community, and the 200 properties formerly affected by the cadmium contamination to advise that previous measures undertaken to protect residents from cadmium will also protect residents from PFAS.
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26 August 2020: lake and fish sampling
West Lakes has finished this stageThe EPA will begin a program of sampling the water in the lake, fish and crustaceans, followed by stormwater and groundwater.
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September 2020: water quality and fish testing
West Lakes has finished this stageWater, fish and crustaceans were all sampled in September 2020. See above for reports.
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October 2020: groundwater sampling
West Lakes has finished this stageDuring September, groundwater monitoring well network reconnaissance was undertaken in preparation for groundwater sampling to take place in October.
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February 2021: stage one groundwater assessment
West Lakes has finished this stageWe have established a groundwater monitoring assessment area and are preparing to drill monitoring wells to determine the extent of the contaminated groundwater. It is likely that at the conclusion of this work, the EPA will propose that a groundwater prohibition area be implemented.
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August 2021: Results of the groundwater works
West Lakes is currently at this stageResults from the groundwater monitoring have confirmed that shallow groundwater is contaminated with poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and metals. The EPA advises residents that groundwater (bore water) in the area should not be used for any purpose and reiterates that lake water, tap water and rainwater are not affected.