Firefighting foam blood test should be given to Katherine residents, mayor says

NT town's drinking water is contaminated by foam from air force base but federal government is resisting calls to fund tests

The Northern Territory government and the Katherine mayor have called for locals to be given the same blood testing and support provided to other communities impacted by Defence's firefighting foam contamination scandal.

Drinking water in the town of Katherine, in the territory's top end, has been contaminated by the decades-long use of toxic firefighting foam at the nearby Tindal air force base.