Monitoring for PFAS
All scheme drinking water we supply is fully compliant with both the current and new draft guidelines (limits) for per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), meeting all health requirements.
PFAS are human-made chemicals used since the 1950s to make products resistant to heat, stains, grease, and water. While no PFAS is manufactured in Australia, they have been used so extensively that trace amounts are usually present in most urban areas around the world, where they may have been released.
The vast majority (up to 90%) of PFAS exposure is estimated to come from other sources, including the food supply and everyday consumer products. These include food packaging, cosmetics, sunscreen, paint, cleaning and stain protection products, non-stick cookware and water-repellent clothing, among others. They are also used in industrial applications and have been present in some types of firefighting foams.
Both state and federal health authorities have not identified public health and safety concerns related to PFAS for the general Australian population.
PFAS is commonly found in a wide range of household and industrial products.
Protecting scheme water supplies
Since 2019, in liaison with the Department of Health, we have conducted an ongoing statewide monitoring program for PFAS. Current sampling shows no detections above the new draft guideline values in any scheme water supplied to customers.
PFAS is one of dozens of chemical and microbiological contaminants covered by the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, which are among the most stringent in the world. The independent laboratories we use can detect amounts so miniscule (down to one nanogram per litre or one part per trillion) they are barely detectable. This is equivalent to one drop in 20 Olympic swimming pools of water.
Australia also benefits from superior protections around water catchments that limit any potential exposure, helping ensure the supply of safe, high-quality drinking water to customers and the community.
The new draft guidelines for PFAS have been released for public consultation and are expected to be finalised by April 2025.
We welcome this draft update and are currently reviewing the proposed changes, which will ensure we continue to have among the highest standard of drinking water in the world.
For further information, visit: