Station cleared of contamination

THE Oakey Queensland Fire and Emergency Services station has been cleared of contaminated water supplies after a round of soil and fluid testing.

Soil and in-ground water tanks at seven QFES stations were tested in order to identify levels of perfluorooctane sulphate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) levels following the emergence of health concerns associated with the chemicals, including the Oakey station.

Statewide, testing has been conducted at 35 stations including regional Queensland, Oakey, Charleville and Crows Nest.

Thirteen stations returned PFOS readings that exceeded the Standing Committee of Environmental Health (enHealth) guidelines for drinking water and recreational water use, including swimming and boating.

Those bases were Cairns, Cairns South, seven tanks at the Queensland Combined Emergency Services Centre, Gladstone, Mackay, Enoggera and Proserpine.

Thirteen water tanks were found to have PFOS readings that exceeded the enHealth water guidelines.

“QFES is developing a program to manage the water tanks and fire and rescue stations to ensure any contaminated materials are disposed of appropriately,” QFES said in a statement.

“QFES is also taking a proactive approach to remove water from all in-ground water tanks across the state as well as fill and cap the tanks as they are no longer required for use.

“An associated health program is also being finalised for the paid and volunteer workforce.

“It will include a free consultation with an independent health practitioner and associated blood screening, if desired, for staff and volunteers – past or present – who may have come into contact with foam.”

The chemicals were a key ingredient in firefighting foams used at fire stations and defence bases around the country.

The State Government last year implemented a strategy to remove the foams from use.