I acknowledge that recent news reporting regarding Medlow Dam has caused some concern for our community in the Blue Mountains, and for visitors to our region. I have been in constant contact with the NSW Minister for Water this week and requested an urgent briefing on the matter.  

First and foremost, I want to assure residents that our drinking water remains safe to consume. Sydney Water has confirmed that the water supplied from the Cascade Plant to our communities is safe to consume and meets all Australian drinking water guidelines.  

These guidelines are developed and updated by health experts. As a precautionary measure, WaterNSW has temporarily closed Medlow Dam in the Blue Mountains after tests detected elevated levels of PFAS chemicals in untreated water.  

It's important to note that Medlow Dam does not supply raw water directly to our taps. Instead, the water from Medlow Dam is routed through other dams in the network to the Cascade Water Filtration Plant. From there, treated drinking water is distributed to Blue Mountains communities. Again, all treated drinking water is safe to drink and I will continue to keep our community informed. 

I personally believe our drinking water here in the Blue Mountains is the best in the world and am confident that agencies are undertaking the necessary stringent work to monitor the situation.