Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of manufactured chemicals. They have been used for several decades in aqueous film-forming foams such as firefighting foams, and other industrial and consumer products like waterproof clothing, carpets and cookware. 

The use of PFAS at Melbourne Airport over many years has impacted soil, groundwater and surface water, both on and off-site. Data from the airport showed high levels of PFAS at some locations in waterways adjacent to the airport. 

EPA performed sampling of the local waterways in 2018 and 2019, which resulted in consumption advice to recreational fishers in relation to fish caught from Arundel Creek, and from the Maribyrnong River upstream of Calder Freeway to Deep Creek at Bulla in 2019. 

This report presents the data and risk assessment on which the EPA consumption advice was based.

What we measured

PFOS + PFHxS were measured in fish, water and sediment at 9 locations along the Maribyrnong and Deep Creek Rivers.  

What we found

PFOS + PFHxS in water samples from the Maribyrnong River catchment were found to be:

• below the recreational water quality guideline (2.0 µg/L) (NHMRC, 2018)
• above the draft guidelines for freshwater ecological health (>0.00023 µg/L) (NEMP 2020).

PFOS + PFHxS were also found in fish samples from the Maribyrnong River catchment. They were:

• lowest from the control site, upstream of Melbourne Airport
• highest from locations near Melbourne Airport
• low in the estuarine reaches of the Maribyrnong River, further downstream of Melbourne Airport.

What this means

The risk assessment showed that:

• surface water runoff from the airport is impacting the PFAS concentrations in the water and in fish at Deep Creek next to the quarry, as well as in the downstream freshwater reach. Runoff from the airport to Arundel Creek would be another source of PFAS entering the Maribyrnong River.
• PFAS concentrations in the Maribyrnong and Deep Creek Rivers are acceptable for recreation, such as swimming, boating, and fishing.  
• PFOS + PFHxS concentrations were low in fish caught at Deep Creek at Bulla so no consumption recommendations are required.
• PFAS concentrations were higher in sections of the Maribyrnong and Deep Creek Rivers near Melbourne Airport. EPA has provided advice for consumption of fish from these areas.

Based on this data, EPA provided advice to recreational fishers. As of July 2024, this advice remains current on our website.

There is also existing consumption advice for PCBs in the estuarine reach of the Maribyrnong River downstream of Solomons Ford on our website. 

What we are doing

EPA have been regulating Australia Pacific Airports (Melbourne) Pty Limited (APAM) — the company that runs Melbourne Airport — for the discharge of PFAS-contaminated stormwater.  EPA engages regularly with APAM and other parties to discuss on-going PFAS activities, including community engagement.  

In 2021, EPA issued APAM with a Notice to Investigate that required the provision of an annual human health and ecological risk assessment (HHERA) for 3-years (May 2022, May 2023 and May 2024). This work has shown that risks are low and acceptable for ecosystems and recreational use of the waterways, but that the EPA consumption advice for recreationally caught fish should remain in place.

APAM continues to perform activities to manage and remove PFAS from the airport, thereby limiting off-site migration. EPA is assessing the frequency of future monitoring of the Maribyrnong Catchment for PFAS, and further sampling will be performed to update the current advice. 

The following links provide further information about PFAS and the activities of APAM and other agencies at Melbourne Airport.

• Airservices Australia 
• APAM – About PFAS 
• APAM – PFAS Management
• Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts - PFAS
• Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts - PFAS Airports Investigation Program.