Orford water murky again The Mercury June 18

HERBICIDE simazine has again been detected in the Prosser River, which provides Orford’s water supply.

The herbicide was found at a concentration of 0.09 micrograms a litre (mg/L) in the second round of monitoring of Tasmanian waterways pesticide chemicals.

Samples from 28 Tasmanian rivers and streams were taken in April and May and sent to Analytical Services Tasmania’s laboratory for screening for pesticides. All other sites were free of the pesticides tested for.

Primary Industries and Water Minister Steve Kons said while the low level of contamination was barely above detection level, it remained contamination and was unacceptable.

A sample taken from the Prosser River on January 18 found simazine, which was once linked to cancer, at more than double the level (2.5 mg/L) found in a sample taken on July 28 last year (0.0012 mg/L).

The Australian Drinking Water Guideline maximum is 0.5 mg/L. Director of Public Health Roscoe Taylor said latest level detected in the Prosser did not pose any risk to public health.

https://hancockwatch.nfshost.com/docs/adelaide.html#murky

28/7/04: Simazine 1.2ug/L Source FoI:  (Agricultural Chemicals in Waterways: Tim Morris MP 28/2/08)

12/8/04: Simazine 0.4ug/L, 0.43ug/L Source FoI:  (Agricultural Chemicals in Waterways: Tim Morris MP 28/2/08)

30/9/04: Simazine 0.31 (0.61?) partly obscured. Source FoI:  (Agricultural Chemicals in Waterways: Tim Morris MP 28/2/08)

3/11/04: Simazine 0.12ug/L Source FoI:  (Agricultural Chemicals in Waterways: Tim Morris MP 28/2/08)

18/1/05: Simazine 2.5ug/L Source FoI:  (Agricultural Chemicals in Waterways: Tim Morris MP 28/2/08)

8/2/05; Simazine 0.12ug/L, 0.13ug/L Source FoI:  (Agricultural Chemicals in Waterways: Tim Morris MP 28/2/08)

10/3/05: Simazine 0.16ug/L