The SA Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has advised residents in the Hendon area, including commercial and industrial properties, not to use bore water for any purpose. According to the EPA, discussions with the current site owner, Johanson Properties Pty Ltd revealed the existence of a report that contains information regarding off-site groundwater contamination from 1992.
The report details results from groundwater monitoring wells that showed significant concentrations of volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons (VCH) in groundwater at off-site locations.
In 1992, the samples contained concentrations of perchloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE) that exceeded the current Australian Drinking Water Guideline values.
EPA Director Science and Assessment Peter Dolan said that although the report is 20 years old, the EPA “will now undertake further assessment and monitoring work to determine the nature and extent of the groundwater contamination”.
