Toxic chemical found in water
A banned toxic firefighting foam used at commercial airports has contaminated a Palmerston North stream, but at a low level.
Samples were taken from land and water at the Palmerston North Airport earlier in the year after it was confirmed the foam, used for putting out fuel fires, was found in fire trucks and in storage.
It was also found at airports in Napier and Gisborne.
Testing initially showed higher levels of the banned chemicals in soil and sediment samples.
In the second stage of testing, surface water was sampled and the toxic chemical was detected, including in the Mangaone Stream, at low concentrations.
Further testing is now planned in the northern stream and southern drain, and Mangaone Stream adjacent to the airport, to understand whether eels and other aquatic life have been affected.
This type of foam was banned in 2006 as it contains harmful chemicals.
Testing began in December at O¯ hakea and Woodbourne military bases after it was revealed high levels of the chemicals from firefighting foams had contaminated nearby water supplies. The problem has since spread. Sediment sampling from
Further testing is now planned.
streams detected the toxic chemical in the northern stream and southern drain, but sediment in Mangaone Stream was not contaminated.
Ground water samples were also taken from 12 properties predominantly north and west of the airport, which had some reliance on bores for drinking water.
One tested indicated the presence of the toxic chemicals, but it was lower than drinking water guidelines.
Palmerston North Airport Limited’s chief executive David Lanham said the airport was informing the 12 households that their bore water was safe for drinking.
Midcentral District Health Board Public Health Services advised swimming in potentially affected waterways did not pose a significant health risk.
The Ministry for Primary Industries said investigations into the toxic chemical in other countries hadn’t reported any ill effects on pets or livestock.
But it recommends people avoid gathering food such as eels and watercress at the Mangaone Stream, Richardsons Line Drain, and other streams near the airport until further test results are available.