Ian Wright

Dad, husband, swimmer, associate professor @westernsydneyu, water researcher, no political affiliations, views my own, [email protected]

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

PFAS pollution still causing contamination 25 year after a tragic petrol tanker crash and fire. This occurred in a Central Coast drinking water catchment (Ourimbah Creek). Also habitat for Platypus. A detailed investigation by ABC's Fleur Connick (https://t.co/AIfpG5ASnz)

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

Another Menindee Fish Kill. What is causing this?
(1) The heat. Fish can suffer distress in hot water. And sudden temp changes. Hot water holds less oxygen.
(2) Toxic Blue-Green algae.
There has been a WaterNSW BG algae red alert for Menindee for weeks.
https://t.co/AbacZMNCUV

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

The giant cuttlefish’s technicolour mating display is globally unique. The SA algal bloom could kill them all https://t.co/Ojnsh9gNgm via @ConversationEDU

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

Franklin Harbour oyster harvesting closes due to toxic algal bloom, another area reopens https://t.co/453WWIqvjx via @ABCaustralia

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

Lake Cargelligo fish kill related to cold temperatures, NSW Fisheries says https://t.co/MKL0c2qqWH

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

Next Wednesday 6th August I am delivering an open lecture: “PFAS in New South Wales: Is it under control?”
(Royal Society of NSW). At the NSW State Library.
https://t.co/Y54wdY0Hnn

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

There are so many challenging issues here. Even once the mine pits are filled, they will lose water from seepage and evaporation and require topping up. And there will also be water quality issues.

https://t.co/t46vDrHS2s

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

What is happening with SA's algal bloom and why should the rest of Australia care? https://t.co/gfZ10bt8h4

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

South Australia's ocean algal bloom.
'After it was first detected in March, the toxic algae off SA's coast has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of marine animals, including dead sharks and stingrays that have washed up on Adelaide beaches':
https://t.co/8hlWbPq2a4

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

With increased spread of new gas fields across Australia, impacts on health of children needs to be protected.
https://t.co/CpSgjekqDq

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

Salt in drinking water is a very big issue:
How much salt is OK in drinking water? Without limits, Australia’s health gap widens in remote and regional areas https://t.co/XAUOx9Hoi1 via @ConversationEDU

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

I love a happy ending. We need more stories like these.
https://t.co/H0oCf38jDT

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

An enormous problem across the planet. The toilet is not a flushing garbage bin!
Foul fatbergs on the rise in Perth's sewers as wrong waste flushed https://t.co/M8gLdoLwxA via @ABCaustralia

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

The Hawkesbury-Nepean River is still in minor flood at North Richmond. But in many waterways upstream the creeks and rivers have peaked and are now falling.
This latest graph shows the level of the Nepean River now starting to fall at Penrith.
https://t.co/MXoHU9j0kP

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

The Hawkesbury River now in minor flood at North Richmond. The Nepean and Hawkesbury have risen steeply over last 24 hours with Warragamba Dam starting to spill overnight.

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

The Nepean and Hawkesbury bridges appear to all be open. The Yarramundi bridge (between Penrith and Richmond) normally goes under first in a flood. But looking at live images, it is still open. With enormous flow of flood water just under the bridge. (https://t.co/nQRwLEELgI)

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

The Hawkesbury River now in minor flood at North Richmond. The Nepean and Hawkesbury have risen steeply over last 24 hours with Warragamba Dam starting to spill overnight.

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

The Hawkesbury River now in minor flood at North Richmond. The Nepean and Hawkesbury have risen steeply over last 24 hours with Warragamba Dam starting to spill overnight.

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

It took a few days and more than 100 mm of rain in the catchment - but Warragamba Dam has now started spilling at the wall. Lots of water now joining the Nepean-Hawkesbury. 138 GL per day released. That is about 1/4 of a year's supply for Sydney! https://t.co/d3CeL5jVE2

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

It took a few days and more than 100 mm of rain in the catchment - but Warragamba Dam has now started spilling at the wall. Lots of water now joining the Nepean-Hawkesbury. 138 GL per day released. That is about 1/4 of a year's supply for Sydney! https://t.co/d3CeL5jVE2

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

I'm watching Warragamba Dam closely - it is currently at 98% capacity. There is a good chance that it could spill in a day or two with the current forecast. The catchment was already saturated from the previous heavy rains. (https://t.co/WZUa7wszOr)

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

Great question. Recent ABS data (https://t.co/aV2vDkcTFB) from Aussies (6000 blood samples). Shows we have less PFAS in us. But in patches we were reckless and failed to act on the known risks and warnings that emerged - particularly from the US.

[Carl Ramirez @TheCarlRamirez]

@drianwright Is Australia's PFAS problem unique or much worse than any other country's PFAS problem? If so, how did it get so bad? Was Australia particularly reckless with PFAS usage?

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

Sadly much of the current drenching along the coast is not getting far inland - particularly in the south!
Climatologists warn higher June rainfall not enough to break Victorian drought https://t.co/yaTadSGwy4 via @ABCaustralia

[Ian Wright @drianwright]

100 % agree! In Australia - we are still only at the beginning to understand the magnitude of the PFAS in our drinking water and food. And in people. All water supplies deserve to have regular PFAS testing and reporting. And take action to tackle the source of the contamination.