In June 2024, elevated levels of per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were identified in drinking water supplied from the Cascade Water Filtration Plant, requiring a rapid response from Sydney Water to protect drinking water quality. A cross functional team comprising local and international experts was established to identify the PFAS compounds present, assess viable treatment options, complete water quality modelling and develop a solution. The innovate treatment approach involved two key steps, retrofitting 50 per cent of the existing filters at the Water Filtration Plant with Granular Activated Carbon to reduce PFAS levels, and installing new Granular Activated Carbon and Ion Exchange units downstream to remove the remaining PFAS.
The Judging Panel commended Sydney Water and Emerging Compounds Treatment Technologies on the rapid response to the elevated PFAS levels. The Panel shortlisted the project due to its innovative approach to solving the PFAS issues, which avoided the need for chemical pre treatment and integrated smoothly with existing operations, reducing the requirement for new capital-intensive infrastructure solutions and increased operational costs.