Airservices Australia has completed a Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI) for PFAS contamination at Adelaide Airport related to the historic operations of Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Service (ARFFS). The PSI is part of a National PFAS Management Program and was conducted by independent consultants GHD.
The PSI detected PFAS on the airport in close proximity to where fire fighting training activities were carried out. Results were generally low on the airport away from where firefighting training historically occurred.
Following the PSI, further targeted sampling was conducted and a higher level of PFAS was detected at the western boundary of the airport. SA Water has advised that this area is not a catchment area for drinking water and that mains drinking water is not affected.
Further groundwater sampling from public land adjacent to the western boundary of the airport, stormwater testing and a survey of bore water usage will now be carried out. Airservices is consulting the community about the results and the additional investigations through the Adelaide Airport Community Aviation Consultation Group (CACG).
Airservices is working closely with Adelaide Airport, the South Australian Environmental Protection Authority (SA EPA) and SA Health including sharing all testing results. Airservices is also currently in the planning phase for a stormwater treatment trial to capture and treat runoff before it enters the stormwater system.
Airservices does not use fire fighting foam containing PFAS at Adelaide Airport. Airservices has been using PFAS free fire fighting foam at Adelaide Airport since 2010.
The investigation report is available here: http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/environment/national-pfas-management-program/
