Floodwater contaminants and effective mitigation techniques

This project concept was proposed by NSW State Emergency Services.

The research will be delivered in three phases:

1. Hazard identification – Analyse floodwaters across different environments (e.g. riverine, urban flash floods, stagnant inland waters) to determine what contaminants are present and how they vary by location and flood type.
2. Risk assessment – Investigate both short- and long-term health impacts of exposure to these contaminants, including potential links to cancer and mental health outcomes.
3. Risk mitigation – Evaluate the effectiveness of current protective clothing and decontamination methods, explore better alternatives, and develop operational guidance and training tailored to flood environments.

The outcomes of this research will lead to safer flood response operations, more informed decision-making and clearer public messaging about the risks of floodwaters. It will also support national consistency in flood contaminant mitigation strategies and help build long-term resilience through improved monitoring, training and advocacy. The project’s findings may also benefit other agencies involved in flood response and recovery, such as those conducting damage assessments, animal rescues, or community clean-ups.