The site of a 1996 Skyhawk crash is being tested for toxic chemicals as officials try to determine how Bulls drinking water became contaminated.
The Bulls water supply showed traces of a group of chemicals that also contaminated drinking water at properties near Ōhakea airbase.
Results showed the chemicals were present in four of the five bores at Bulls and in its supply network, but not at high levels.
* Council puts the pressure on over firefighting foam contamination * Investigation launched after chemicals found in Bulls water supply * Tests show Ōhakea and Woodbourne drinking water contaminated from airbase toxic runoff * Firefighter foam poses water risk around NZ air bases Testing of the Skyhawk site is the latest development in a saga that has had officials struggling to explain in recent months how drinking water in the area was contaminated.
"However, to support Rangitīkei District Council and Horizons Regional Council to determine possible sources of [the toxic chemical] in the Bulls water supply, the Defence Force undertook to test the site of a 1996 Skyhawk aircraft crash, 9 kilometres north of Ōhakea airbase."
A Horizons Regional Council spokeswoman said this site was one of many possible sources.
Others included landfills, wastewater, industrial activity or soil moved from Ōhakea.
In December, the Defence Force revealed chemicals from toxic firefighting foams, which have been linked to a range of illnesses including cancer, had been found at levels higher than current guidelines in water under Ōhakea and Woodbourne airbases, and testing was taking place at surrounding properties.
A Defence Force spokesman said as well as providing bottled drinking water to residents, they were providing and installing water tanks for households where the toxic chemicals were detected close to or above the interim drinking water guidelines.
– Stuff