2017-2024: Westleigh Fire Station
NSW Rural Fire Services (RFS) has investigated the presence of per-and-poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination stemming from the historical use of fire-fighting foams at the Westleigh training site, which is owned by Hornsby Shire Council.
PFAS was detected in low quantities in soil, surface and groundwater samples.
Residents of Westleigh do not need to take any additional precautions to limit their exposure to PFAS and investigations have now concluded. As a precaution, RFS has voluntarily removed a 10 m x 25 m x 0.3 m section of soil from the north-east of the site. The excavated soil was sent to landfill, in accordance with NSW Environment Protection Authority’s (EPA) waste classification guidelines.
What is the situation at Westleigh Fire Training Centre?
PFAS investigations have commenced at the Westleigh Fire Training Centre, 12 Warrigal Drive, Westleigh, NSW 2120.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (NSW EPA) is monitoring the progress of NSW RFS (RFS) PFAS investigations at the Westleigh Fire Training Centre.
Why is PFAS being investigated?
Foam containing PFAS was used in firefighting activities, such as fuel type fires and training, by some Rural Fire Brigades since 1975 for the protection of people and property.
The RFS identified PFAS-containing firefighting foam might have been stored or used as part of fire training and operations at this location. As a precaution, the RFS is undertaking investigations to determine if PFAS from firefighting foam might still be present in the environment.
The presence of PFAS in the environment may not necessarily pose a risk to human health or the environment. There is currently no consistent evidence that exposure to PFOS and PFOA causes adverse human health effects (refer to NSW Health Site). It is important to assess if there are any potential ways in which people might have contact with these chemicals. The primary PFAS exposure pathways are through drinking water containing PFAS or eating produce that was grown using water containing PFAS. Local residents are connected to the town water supply.
What testing is being undertaken?
Several PFAS site assessments including human health risk assessment and monitoring programs have been undertaken at the site between 2017 and 2024 by independent environmental consultants on behalf of the RFS, including concrete, soil, sediment, surface water, and groundwater sampling on and off-site.
Ongoing surface water and groundwater monitoring events have been undertaken onsite since September 2019 to assess groundwater concentrations over time.
What were the findings?
Sampling has confirmed the presence of PFAS in concrete, soil, surface water and groundwater at the site.
Targeted remediation, two PFAS hot spots, were completed in 2017.
What happens now?
RFS and the NSW EPA have reviewed reports associated with the site to determine the next steps. A Remediation Action Plan has been prepared to address investigation data gaps and outline a suitable remediation and/or management strategy to make the site suitable for current and future proposed land uses.
RFS are undertaking ongoing surface water and groundwater monitoring events to assess temporal trends in PFAS concentrations in groundwater and surface water at the site.
Reports
- Rural Fire Service Training Site Investigation, February 2017.
- Further PFAS Investigation Stage 1 Desktop Review, May 2017.
- Preliminary Human Health Risk Assessment, April 2018.
- Detailed Site Investigation, April 2018.
- Excavation Report, September 2018.
- Tank Water and Groundwater Monitoring Event March 2019, April 2019.
- Groundwater and Surface Water Monitoring Events 2020, November 2020.
- Groundwater and Surface Water Monitoring Events 2021, April 2022.
- Groundwater and Surface Water Monitoring Events 2022, October 2023.
- PFAS Remediation Action Plan, July 2024.