‘Essential’ toxic foam test is not being done
Testing deemed ‘‘essential’’ by the Ministry for the Environment to assess the effects of firefighting foam contamination is not being done.
Properties near the Ohakea and Woodbourne airbases in Manawatu¯ and Marlborough, respectively, have had their water contaminated by use of the foam and officials have been investigating the problem.
But they have not been using all the tools available, arguing not every method is useful at this point.
Although one kind of tests has been done to pick up the group of chemicals known as PFAS, which is toxic, another type of tests that could reveal a broader range of toxic chemicals has not been done.
That’s because the broader testing is not yet proven to be helpful for comparison purposes, officials say. It can’t yet be compared with New Zealand drinking water standards and there are elements of the test that are still being developed.
The priority was to make sure households had clean water. The testing so far reflected that priority.
A spokesperson for the Government response to the contamination said testing being carried out enabled a comparison with New Zealand’s drinking water standards and could be used to inform the public about the quality of the water they were drinking.
The spokesperson said the testing provided robust and repeatable results on the known compounds of concern and a number of similar compounds.
The other type of testing allowed a broader range of the toxic chemicals to be detected. The spokesperson said it would be an essential part of ongoing research. It’s not of much use right now, though, according to officials.
In late January 2018, it was confirmed the toxic chemicals were present in high levels at properties near the bases, including in water that residents had been drinking. Testing then spread out to a larger area, and to Defence Force bases in Devonport and Whenuapai, Auckland.
Health support was being offered to people who lived near Ohakea or Woodbourne bases whose drinking-water source exceeded accepted guidelines for the toxic compound.
Work has begun to identify and prioritise potentially contaminated sites nationwide.
This includes industries that have used the toxic foam, for example airports and ports.
The national scale of the investigation includes an expanding testing programme for Crown sites and surrounds, as well as priority sites identified by regional councils.
Although one kind of tests has been done to pick up the group of chemicals known as PFAS, which is toxic, another type of tests that could reveal a broader range of toxic chemicals has not been done.