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Ian Wright @drianwright

Dad, husband, swimmer, associate professor @westernsydneyu, water researcher, no political affiliations, views my own, i.wright@westernsydney.edu.au

Joined January 2020
  • Tweets 8,644
  • Following 1,115
  • Followers 1,856
887 Photos and videos
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 (abc.net.au/news/2026-02-07/p…)

Locals outraged after forever chemicals found in waterways

For 25 years this waterway was polluted with toxic "forever chemicals". It was only disconnected from a major drinking supply 18 months ago.

abc.net.au
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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. abc.net.au/news/2026-02-04/f…
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The giant cuttlefish’s technicolour mating display is globally unique. The SA algal bloom could kill them all theconversation.com/the-gian… via @ConversationEDU

The giant cuttlefish’s technicolour mating display is globally unique. The SA algal bloom could...

The SA government has convened an emergency meeting today to discuss taking cuttlefish eggs from the wild, due to the impending threat of the algal bloom which could wipe them out forever.

theconversation.com
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Franklin Harbour oyster harvesting closes due to toxic algal bloom, another area reopens abc.net.au/news/2025-07-30/c… via @ABCaustralia

Major SA oyster region temporarily shut as toxic algal bloom spreads

The state government has closed Cowell's Franklin Harbour, one of South Australia's biggest oyster growing regions, as a toxic algal bloom continues to spread in the state's waters.

abc.net.au
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Lake Cargelligo fish kill related to cold temperatures, NSW Fisheries says abc.net.au/news/2025-07-30/l…

Cold snap blamed for mass fish deaths in NSW

NSW Fisheries says it is likely thousands of native fish died at Lake Cargelligo because of cold temperatures.  

abc.net.au
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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. royalsoc.org.au/events/1333r…
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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. abc.net.au/news/2025-07-25/v…

Closed coal mines to be turned into lakes, but who pays for the water?

Environmental groups want the owners of Victoria's three brown-coal mines to pay for the water needed to turn their vast sites into lakes.

abc.net.au
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What is happening with SA's algal bloom and why should the rest of Australia care? abc.net.au/news/2025-07-23/s…

What is happening with SA's algal bloom and why should the rest of Australia care?

South Australia is dealing with an "unprecedented" environmental disaster, which has spread throughout the coastline, killing thousands of sea creatures. And it's unlikely to go away anytime soon.

abc.net.au
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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': abc.net.au/news/2025-07-23/s…

Is $14m and a 10-minute beach trip enough to show the feds care about the algal bloom?

During his visit to Adelaide, the environment minister bats away criticism about his government's response to SA's algal bloom crisis. Is $14 million and a 10-minute beach inspection enough to show...

abc.net.au
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With increased spread of new gas fields across Australia, impacts on health of children needs to be protected. theconversation.com/children…

Children living near oil and gas wells face higher risk of rare leukemia, studies show

As overall cancer rates in the US decline, childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia continues to rise.

theconversation.com
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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 theconversation.com/how-much… via @ConversationEDU

How much salt is OK in drinking water? Without limits, Australia’s health gap widens in remote and...

Two litres of tap water in the regional New South Wales town of Walgett has as much sodium as an entire large bag of sea salt popcorn.

theconversation.com
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I love a happy ending. We need more stories like these. abc.net.au/news/2025-07-12/c…

Rescuer describes moment she discovered lost German backpacker

The woman who found missing German backpacker Carolina Wilga by the side of an outback road has describes her rescue as "miraculous". 

abc.net.au
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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 abc.net.au/news/2025-07-04/f… via @ABCaustralia

Foul fatbergs on the rise in Perth's sewers

Sewer blockages caused by mounds of grease, oils and wet wipes called 'fatbergs' reached foul new heights in Perth, as authorities try to stop people putting foreign objects down sinks and toilets.

abc.net.au
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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. bom.gov.au/fwo/IDN60233/IDN6…
Ian Wright@drianwright
3 Jul 2025
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.
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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. (livetraffic.com/traffic-came…)
Ian Wright@drianwright
3 Jul 2025
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.
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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
3 Jul 2025
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! abc.net.au/news/2024-04-06/n…
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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! abc.net.au/news/2024-04-06/n…
Ian Wright@drianwright
1 Jul 2025
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. (waternsw.com.au/nsw-dams/nsw…)
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Great question. Recent ABS data (abs.gov.au/articles/per-and-…) 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
2 Jul 2025
Replying to @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?
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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 abc.net.au/news/2025-07-02/h… via @ABCaustralia

What will it take to break the drought in Victoria?

Parts of south-west and western Victoria have been experiencing their lowest rainfall since 1900 and climatologists say recent downpours won't be enough to end the drought.

abc.net.au
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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.
Jordan Aqua@JAquaToday
1 Jul 2025
Replying to @drianwright
PFAS crises really highlight why transparent standards and advanced water tech are vital. Let's drive change together—what urgent steps do you think will lead to safer water? 💧
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