Thursday 26 November 2026 · 6.00–7.30 pm · Mittagong RSL Club, 148–150 Old Hume Highway, Mittagong · Free
Reserve your free place on Humanitix
Do you rely on rainwater for drinking, cooking or everyday household use? Do you really know what's in your tank?
Join WinZero for an important community forum where Dr Ian Wright, water scientist at Western Sydney University, will reveal the findings of recent water tank testing across the Southern Highlands, including results for PFAS, lead and other metals.
The findings raise important questions about the safety of rainwater used by households across our region.
Dr Wright will compare the Southern Highlands results with testing undertaken elsewhere in NSW, including around the Cadia gold and copper mine near Orange, where water contamination has become a major community concern.
What will we discover?
- PFAS and metals: what did testing of Southern Highlands rainwater tanks reveal?
- How do we compare? Are our results similar to those found in other parts of NSW?
- Lessons from Cadia: what can we learn from water contamination investigations near the gold and copper mine?
- The lead problem: why has lead been detected in so many tanks sampled across NSW, and what are the potential health risks?
- Protecting your household: what practical steps can you take to make sure your tank water is safe to drink?
- Warning signs: why should rust-coloured or sediment-discoloured water not be consumed until its safety has been established?
Special guest: Oliver Gaynor
We have also invited Oliver Gaynor from William Roberts Lawyers, who is leading the Cadia class action concerning alleged contamination associated with the mine.
Oliver has helped fund water testing in the Southern Highlands, including expensive PFAS analysis and blood testing. His involvement has helped make this important community investigation possible.
Why attend?
Rainwater tanks are widely used throughout the Southern Highlands, yet many households have never had their water tested for potentially harmful contaminants.
This forum is an opportunity to hear directly from an experienced water scientist, understand the findings and learn what you can do to protect your household. There will be an opportunity for community questions.
Reserve your place and join this important community conversation about the safety of our drinking water: register free on Humanitix.
Earlier this year Dr Wright spoke to us about PFAS in our rivers. Read The Forever Chemicals in Your Water: What Platypuses Are Telling Us About PFAS, or see our River health project.