2017 – Albion Park Fire and Rescue (New South Wales) – PFAS

Albion Park Fire and Rescue NSW

https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/your-environment/contaminated-land/pfas-investigation-program/pfas-investigation-sites/Albion-Park-Fire-and-Rescue-NSWFire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) has investigated per-and-poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination stemming from the historical use of fire-fighting foams at its Albion Park site.

Investigations detected PFAS in some surface and ground water samples from drainage channels. The detection of PFAS is not unexpected due to the historical use of PFAS-containing fire-fighting foam at the site. PFAS has also been used in many domestic and industrial products and background levels may be present from these other sources.

There were no detections of PFAS in Lake Illawarra.

Residents of Albion Park do not need to take any additional precautions to limit their exposure to PFAS. Albion Park residents are connected to reticulated water (town water) which is safe to use and residents surrounding the FRNSW site do not use water from the drainage channels for drinking or recreational use. There is no need to restrict recreational activities on Lake Illawarra based on the evidence collected to date.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) will continue to work collaboratively with FRNSW to develop an ongoing site management plan.

GHD Report: https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/gallery/files/PFAS/218832%20Albion%20Park%20PFAS%20Investigation%20Report.pdf