Williamtown in NSW is one of several military bases like Tindal RAAF Base which, has been leaching PFAS chemicals into the local water supply.

Households in Williamtown, forced to abandon their bores and hook into tap water, were promised their water bills would be paid by Defence for three years.

However only 30 per cent of property owners that already had a town water connection when the contamination was announced – in September 2015 – have been stung. 

The Newcastle Herald reported last week that some residents have been facing skyrocketing water bills, as a result of being forced to abandon the toxic bores on their rural properties. 

But Defence is not doing the same in Katherine, according to a Defence spokeswoman. 

“This initiative is limited to residents living within the Williamtown management area, which is the subject of NSW Government precautionary health advisories,” the spokeswoman said. 

“The initiative is targeted at ensuring that all residents living in the Williamtown management area can live consistently with the NSW Government’s long-term precautionary health advice that was issued following the completion of Defence’s environmental investigation.  

“In particular, the initiative is to assist residents that may have supplemented their water usage through the use of private bores, as the use of groundwater is subject to health advisories from the NSW Government.”