Scientists today warned the Federal Government that the quality of Australia's inland water is increasingly at risk.

In a paper presented to the Prime Minister's Science and Engineering Council (PMSEC), CSIRO and State Government researchers said that the many processes of contamination are still not fully understood, but that the consequences could potentially be serious and wide-ranging.

The two main causes are toxins produced by blue-green algae, and agricultural chemical residues.

CSIRO's Dr Richard Davis of the Division of Water Resources said that both surface water and groundwater are threatened.

"We have recently found that some of the algae in Australia produce unique toxins," said Dr Davis. "Some of these toxins are long-lived, and potentially toxic to humans and animals.

"These algal toxins, known as 'Paralytic Shellfish Poisons' (PSPs) could accumulate in the foodchain affecting human health, our rural industries, and Australian plants and animals. We urgently need to find out whether the foodchain is being affected," said Dr Davis.

"It is also essential that we gather accurate data on the extent of pesticide and algal toxin contamination of drinking water supplies, and that we develop effective means of treating water to remove pesticide residues and toxins," he said.

Dr Davis said that the effects of individual pesticides were generally well known, but that 'synergistic' combinations of pesticide mixtures in the field are not well understood,

More information from:
general - Dr Richard Davis CSIRO 06-2465706
toxins - Dr Gary Jones CSIRO 07-3896 9516
pesticides - Dr Peter Fairweather 069-601575
Emerging Water Quality Issues available from Nick Goldie 06-2766478