Pesticides, Waterways & Drinking Water

Image above: Locations on Australian Drinking Map where breaches to the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines have been recorded.

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March 2024: For the past few years, FoE Land Use Researcher Anthony Amis has been creating maps and databases focusing on pesticides, drinking water contaminants and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl) chemicals. These websites have been most useful in the collation and dissemination of data to thousands of Australians concerned about these issues. No Government agency in the country provides or is responsible for getting this type of information out to the public. The maps have been set up with the technical assistance of Dvize

The Australian pesticide map can be found here: https://pesticides.australianmap.net/

The Pesticide Map was initially started in November 2016. Initially the site was created in order to collate all of FoE’s extensive files into pesticide pollution into one database.

The Australian PFAS Map can be found here: https://pfas.australianmap.net/

The PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).map was created in July 2018. Interestingly this site is one of only a handful around the world mapping PFAS contamination. Interest has also been generated in the United States regarding the Australian PFAS map https://pfasproject.com/pfas-contamination-site-tracker/ PFAS chemicals are now being called ‘The Forever Chemicals’ as they can take centuries to break down in the environment.

The Australian Drinking Water Map can be found here: https://water.australianmap.net/

After the creation of the Australian Pesticide Map, it became clear that although pesticides can threaten domestic water supplies, there are a host of other substances found more frequently and at higher levels than pesticides. It was decided that in order to better understand the full extent of drinking water contaminants a mapping site was required which would better inform what substances were of most concern and which communities were most at risk from drinking water problems. The site was started in November 2017.

The maps are also useful in determining strategies for campaigners and provide useful insights into the what has occurred locally, regionally and nationally. The maps provide historical information for individuals and communities which in turn helps these communities better understand the complexity of the issues at hand and allow for discussion and further dissemenation of information.

We rely on donations to keep this work going and yes donations are tax deductible.