Bores test negative for PFAS chemicals, but Bullsbrook residents' fears remain

Bullsbrook residents say they’re frightened to go back to drinking groundwater, despite recent testing clearing the majority of houses of contamination by toxic firefighting foam used at a local defence base.
Perfluoroalkyls and polyfluoroalkyls, also known as PFAS, are a class of hazardous chemicals  commonly found in products that reduce heat, stains, grease and water. Until being phased out in 2004, they were contained in firefighting foam used by the Australian Defence Force, including at the RAAF Base in Pearce. For about three years 154 properties have been provided with bottled water by the Defence Force; however, residents were told at a community meeting on Wednesday that 128 homes will no longer need this precaution as bore water testing confirmed it was now safe to drink.
Those residents will continue to be provided with bottled water until October, but told the meeting they were too frightened to switch back to bore water “I don’t feel comfortable going back to bore water,” one resident said. “You can’t guarantee that these other homes won’t be affected into the future,” another said. The remaining 26 households will be provided with a filtration system, but in the meantime will continue to have access to bottled water. Member for Pearce Christian Porter told them he would support their fight for access to scheme water.