Video: Lab PFAS testing expansion

Council’s Townsville Laboratory Services continues to grow from strength to strength, building on its humble beginnings three decades ago to today providing a suite of essential environmental testing services to the Northern region and beyond.

Video Transcript

Mayor Nick Dametto:

Testing for PFAS is so important for local governments, but also government agencies that need to make sure that the soil that's being removed from areas or waterthat's being used is being tested and is safe.

If contaminated soil is being brought up through any sort of civil construction, it's been disposed of correctly.

TLS Manager and lead scientist Edgar Salvador:

In the last ten or so years, we've been rapidly expanding in terms of capability to address the growing demand for testing in North Queensland.

We have recently expanded our PFAS capability to include solids, biosolids and soil testing.

In the whole country, there are only about 16 laboratories with accreditation for PFAS testing and we are proud to be one of them.

And we're the only Council owned laboratory in the whole country with PFAS accreditation.

Mayor Nick Dametto:

We’re trying to expand our income streams for the Townsville City Council and doing that through the Townsville labs is working for us tenfold.

We're able to test right here everything we need from water quality right through to PFAS for our Townsville City Council local government area.