The NSW Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) will test the Hawkesbury River at Richmond for PFAS chemicals within the next few months, marking the first investigation of its kind in nearly six years. The chemicals, commonly referred to as "forever chemicals," are linked to serious health risks, including cancer, and are notoriously difficult to remove from the environment.

“The EPA will begin a new round of sampling in the Hawkesbury River at Richmond in coming months as part of the Government’s PFAS Investigation Program. Details of that sampling program, and results, will be shared with the community when they are available,” an EPA spokesperson told the Hawkesbury Post.

The announcement comes amid growing concerns about PFAS contamination in the region, particularly in light of construction work on the new Richmond Bridge. Workers on the project will operate from barges to avoid direct exposure to the river, and PFAS-contaminated water will not be used for dust suppression due to its potential risks to human health and the environment. A Transport for NSW report confirmed that PFAS levels in the Hawkesbury River exceed the ecological health assessment criteria under the 2020 National Environmental Management Plan.

“...Analytical results from the Hawkesbury River show that the PFAS concentration exceeded the adopted ecological health assessment criteria under the NEMP 2.0,” the report stated. It also noted that reusing PFAS-contaminated water during construction could harm nearby waterways, flora, fauna, and human health, adding to the urgency of addressing the issue.

PFAS contamination in the Hawkesbury is a legacy of firefighting foams used at RAAF Base Richmond for decades. The chemicals have leached into the soil, groundwater, and river, spreading further with the tides and during floods. In 2018, an investigation by the Australian Department of Defence confirmed that PFAS had migrated from the base into surrounding areas, prompting precautionary dietary advice in 2019 to around 50 residents about consuming produce grown in contaminated soil or watered with tainted water.

While the EPA conducted fish sampling in 2019, no further testing has been undertaken in the years since, leaving many residents concerned about how far PFAS has spread and the long-term impacts on health and agriculture. Untreated water from the river is widely used for irrigation, livestock, and recreation, raising questions about potential exposure risks.

The EPA’s announcement also follows recent scrutiny of its handling of PFAS contamination in other areas. Earlier this month, the authority revealed plans to test Tower Beach in Botany Bay for PFAS substances, despite signage advising against swimming or fishing at the site without providing reasons for the warnings. When the Hawkesbury Post questioned the EPA about the lack of similar testing in Richmond, the agency responded by announcing the new round of sampling.

A spokesperson for the EPA emphasised that the presence of PFAS in the environment does not necessarily indicate an immediate health risk. “Richmond residents continue to have access to town (tap) water which is safe to drink. The presence of PFAS in the environment does not necessarily mean there is a health risk. The Australian Department of Defence is continuing work on remediating the RAAF site,” the spokesperson said.

The announcement comes admidst a NSW inquiry into PFAS contamination in waterways and drinking water. There is also a national inquiry looking into sources of contamination, potential health and environmental ompacts and the role of regulation..

Concerns about PFAS have intensified in recent years, particularly after the federal government recommended lowering acceptable levels of the chemicals in drinking water in October last year. Final guidance is due in April. However, testing for PFAS in untreated wastewater and environmental sources remains limited. Sydney Water only tests for PFAS at filtration plants, as the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines apply solely to treated drinking water and not to raw water from rivers or dams.

The Hawkesbury River is one of Australia’s most significant urban waterways, supplying drinking water to tens of thousands of residents and supporting agriculture, irrigation, and livestock production. Authorities continue to assure the public that Sydney’s drinking water remains safe.

Globally, the health risks of PFAS have gained increasing attention. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has warned that there is “no safe level of exposure” to some of these chemicals, underscoring the need for comprehensive testing and action.