PFA's in City Water
Andrew Mitchell made this Official Information request to Christchurch City Council
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From: Andrew Mitchell
Dear Christchurch City Council,
I have come across the following report in regard to PFAs in water:
PFA’s in water;
PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) are a group of synthetic chemicals that have been used in various consumer products, including non-stick cookware, food packaging, and firefighting foam. They have also been detected in fluoridated water, which raises concerns about potential health risks.
Exposure to PFAS in water;
PFAS can leach into water from various sources, including:
Drinking water treatment systems
Industrial activities
Firefighting foam
Landfills and waste disposal sites
Studies have shown that PFAS can be present in water at levels that exceed the recommended guidelines. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established a maximum allowable level of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water.
Health Effects of PFAS in Water;
Exposure to PFAS in water has been linked to various health effects, including:
Cancer
Reproductive issues
Thyroid problems
Immune system suppression
Neurological effects
Detection and Measurement of PFAS in Water;
To detect and measure PFAS in water, various methods are used, including:
Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)
Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)
Reducing Exposure to PFAS in Water;
To reduce exposure to PFAS in water, consider the following:
Install an in-home filter on your tap
Use a water filter pitcher or bottle
Avoid using products containing PFAS
Support policies and regulations that limit PFAS use and exposure
Conclusion;
PFAS in water (and fluoridated) water is a growing concern, and it is essential to take steps to reduce exposure and mitigate potential health risks. By understanding the sources, detection methods, and health effects of PFAS in water, we can work towards a safer and healthier environment. (source: EPA.gov June 2024).
Could you please supply information regarding the testing for PFAs in the Christchurch City Council area water supply:
1: Levels of PFA’s found,
2: Location, date and subsequent testing/levels?
3: Has there been PFAs found in the City’s water source, at any time?
4. What levels are acceptable by the WHO standards for water supply in Christchurch City?
Could you please supply all data, from correspondence and emails about PFAs in Christchurch City Council water supplies in from January 2023 to date.
Thankyou.
Andrew Mitchell
From: Official Information
Christchurch City Council
Kia ora Andrew,
Thank you for your request for information.
We are handling your request under the Local Government Official
Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA). We have forwarded it to the
appropriate Christchurch City Council staff, and we will provide a
response or update within 20 working days of the date we received your
request. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will
notify you of an extension of that timeframe.
If you have any queries, please feel free to contact me. If any additional
factors come to light which are relevant to your request, please do not
hesitate to contact me so that these can be taken into account.
If you have not had a reply within 10 working days, please email
[1][Christchurch City Council request email]
Kind regards,
Jess Griffin
Information Coordinator
Official Information
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From: Official Information
Christchurch City Council
Kia ora Andrew,
On 24 July 2024, you requested the following information, under the Local
Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (LGOIMA):
Could you please supply information regarding the testing for PFAs in the
Christchurch City Council area water supply:
1: Levels of PFA's found,
2: Location, date and subsequent testing/levels?
3: Has there been PFAs found in the City's water source, at any time?
4. What levels are acceptable by the WHO standards for water supply in
Christchurch City?
Could you please supply all data, from correspondence and emails about
PFAs in Christchurch City Council water supplies in from January 2023 to
date.
Staff have confirmed that we do not test for PFAs and have no plans too,
as a council we work to the rules set by the regulators. These can be
found here: provide [1]Drinking Water Quality Assurance Rules
(taumataarowai.govt.nz).
Due to this we have decided to refuse your request under the following
sections of the LGOIMA:
o 17(e) – the information requested does not exist or cannot be found
o 17(g) – the information requested is not held by the local authority
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review our
decision. Complaints can be sent by email to
[2][email address].
Publication of responses to LGOIMA requests
Please note: our LGOIMA responses may be published on the Christchurch
City Council website a month after they have been responded to, with
requesters’ personal details withheld. If you have any concerns about
this, please contact the Official Information team on
[3][Christchurch City Council request email].
Yours sincerely,
Sean Rainey
Manager Official Information and Privacy Officer
Official Information Team
Office of the Mayor and Chief Executive
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[4][IMG]
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solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
The views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender and
may not necessarily reflect the views of the Christchurch City Council.
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sender and delete the email.
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