Defence says PFAS in groundwater travelling 'faster than predicted' from Forest Hill RAAF base

By Monty Jacka, Simon Wallace and Jess Scully | ABC News | October 24, 2023

Read the full article by Monty Jacka, Simon Wallace and Jess Scully (ABC News)

"Chemical run-off from an Air Force base has been detected near a NSW city's water supply, more than four decades ahead of schedule.

The Department of Defence has found low levels of PFAS in two groundwater monitoring wells just 650 metres from a bore field which is one of Wagga Wagga's main drinking water catchments.

The discovery contradicts modelling undertaken by the department in 2021, which indicated it would take at least 50 years for the chemical to travel from the Forest Hill RAAF base to the water supply.

"These results suggest the PFAS plume … is moving faster than originally predicted," a Defence spokesperson said."