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The Latest Breaking News from Sydney Water

Sydney’s archaic sewerage system a ‘significant’ source of microplastic pollution into the sea

Malabar wastewater plant discharges 5.4bn to 120bn microplastic particles each day, CSIRO report says, prompting calls for more advanced treatment processes

The Guardian - AU

Pumping sewage into the sea has long been a Sydney thing – and even $32bn won’t change that

Sydney Water plans to build new facilities inland and expand a pilot scheme to recycle wastewater for drinking, but will need outfalls for foreseeable future

The Guardian - AU

Sydney’s unusual sewerage system to blame for faecal and fat balls on beaches, experts claim

City invented Australia’s beach culture, environmentalist Richard Gosden says, but all this time ‘it’s been conducted in diluted sewage’

The Guardian - AU

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Two Sydney beaches still closed after mystery debris ‘grease balls’ washed ashore

Two beaches – Dee Why and South Curl Curl – still closed after marble-sized debris washed up at multiple locations

The Guardian - AU

Mysterious marble-sized balls washing up on Sydney beaches baffle authorities

Northern Beaches Council says they don’t know what the balls actually are

The Independent UK

Mystery balls close nine northern Sydney beaches months after fatbergs washed ashore

Grey ball-shaped debris found washed up along shore will be tested by Environment Protection Authority, local council says

The Guardian - AU

Toxic PFAS at 'trace' levels in city's water supply

Dangerous "forever chemicals" have been detected in Sydney's water supply but are at levels that pose no health risk, a government agency said.

AAP

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Environment agency heads deny blame for chemical spread

The NSW authority responsible for water pollution has been grilled about the spread of cancer-linked chemicals throughout water supplies in a fiery exchange.

AAP

More mystery balls wash up in south Sydney weeks after ‘fatbergs’ close eastern suburbs beaches

Greens claim EPA no closer to determining cause of debris after beachgoers advised not to enter Silver beach at Kurnell until clean-up complete

The Guardian - AU

Mobile fix for 'forever chemicals' in drinking water

A mobile treatment system will be installed at a key water filtration plant as authorities rush to bring levels of PFAS chemicals in line with new standards.

AAP

NSW regulator chose to reveal content of Sydney’s mystery beach balls on day of US election

After debris balls were widely reported to be tar, testing coordinated with EPA revealed they were consistent with human-generated waste, or ‘likely lumps of fatberg’

The Guardian - AU

‘It was just coming through the window’: wave of water rushes into Sydney homes after pipe bursts

Resident in the suburb of Como says water was ‘literally spraying all around’ after pipeline to Woronora Dam burst

The Guardian - AU

Sydney homes flooded after water pipeline bursts – as it happened

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The Guardian - AU

Price rise on cards to fund urban water infrastructure

The NSW opposition blames federal immigration policy for the prospect of water prices rising by hundreds of dollars each year in Sydney and surrounds.

AAP

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The Guardian - AU

Dam in Blue Mountains closed after elevated levels of PFAS chemicals detected

WaterNSW says closure a ‘precautionary measure’ and water supplied from filtration plant to local communities is safe and meets guidelines

The Conversation

What exactly are ‘forever chemicals’ – and can we move beyond them?

The Australian parliament will conduct a national inquiry into the dangers of “forever chemicals”.

AAP

'Forever chemicals' to fall under the microscope

Synthetic chemicals linked to cancer and other worrying health impacts could soon be better understood as parliament launches an inquiry into PFAS substances.

Newcastle Herald

Drinking water 'safe' despite cancer-causing chemicals found in platypuses

Likely, cancer-causing chemicals have been detected in Sydney drinking water catchments.

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AAP

Toilet humour: campaign to flush out loo-blockers

Fatbergs are on the rise, prompting a campaign to remind people not to flush items down the toilet that could cause blockages in Sydney's sewer system.

The Guardian - AU

Australia among hotspots for toxic ‘forever chemicals’, study of PFAS levels finds

Australian limits on acceptable levels of these toxic chemicals in drinking water ‘orders of magnitude’ higher than in US

The Guardian - AU

Calls for more netted swimming spots in Sydney harbour after shark attack

Harbourside councils want to install more shark nets across city but say pollution remains a problem and requires state government funding

The Guardian - AU

Water restrictions predicted for Sydney as likely hot El Niño summer raises ‘red flags’

Falling dam levels and spiking water consumption lead authorities to urge residents to watch their usage

AAP

Sydney in line for water restrictions if dry continues

Water restrictions could return in Sydney if the predicted dry and hot summer eventuates, with residents urged to look for ways to reduce their use.

Newcastle Herald

How Sydney's waste is rehabilitating Hunter mines

Sydney Water produces about 180,000 tonnes of biosolids per year.

The Conversation

Here's how wastewater facilities could tackle food waste, generate energy and slash emissions

Most Australian food waste ends up in landfill. Rotting in the absence of oxygen produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. While some facilities capture this “landfill gas” to produce energy, or burn it off to release carbon dioxide instead, it’s a major contributor to climate change. Valuable resources such as…

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