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New PFAS guidelines under review
We welcome the review of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) provided by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). The proposed new guidelines are available for public consultation. We assure customers that the levels of PFAS in drinking water supplied from our 9 water treatment plants are well inside the current ADWG, ensuring the continued delivery of safe, high-quality drinking water.
What are PFAS chemicals?
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals found in many everyday products. They have been widely used in many industrial and consumer applications as they are effective at resisting heat, stains, grease and water. Common consumer products include carpet and upholstery protection, paper coating, cosmetics and sunscreen. Some PFAS have also been used in fire-fighting foams.
The properties that make PFAS useful in industrial and consumer products can also make them problematic in the environment. This is because PFAS are highly mobile in water. This means they travel long distances from their source and don't break down fully in the environment.
Dam and catchment water vs treated water
It's important to know that the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines only apply to treated water. This is the water we supply to you. The water found in dams and other catchments is untreated water. Untreated water is managed by WaterNSW and is not subject to the guidelines.
We ensure that all your treated drinking water meets the strict standards set out in the guidelines. Take a look at our ongoing PFAS monitoring results.
New PFAS treatment system for the Blue Mountains
We've installed a new mobile PFAS treatment system at the Cascade Water Filtration Plant in the Blue Mountains. The system uses granular activated carbon (GAC) and ion exchange resin. This is a demonstrated water filtration technology that can significantly reduce PFAS levels. GAC effectively adsorbs contaminants through its porous structure, while ion exchange resin swaps unwanted ions such as PFAS with safer ions to significantly improve drinking water quality.
The new plant will be operational by the end of 2024. Early treatment results will be available in early 2025.
PFAS treatment system at the Cascade Water Filtration Plant
Who sets the standards for safe drinking water?
To ensure the safety of drinking water and to provide a basis for determining the quality of water supplied to consumers throughout Australia, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has developed the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. These guidelines are underpinned by available scientific evidence. They are used by state and territory health departments, drinking water regulators, local health authorities, and water utilities like us.
The guidelines include maximum health-based guideline values for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) in drinking water. Published in 2018, these values were derived using tolerable daily intake (TDI) values recommended by the Department of Health and Aged Care. They undergo rolling revisions to ensure they represent the latest scientific evidence on safe drinking water.
The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines are managed by the NHMRC, which is an independent body with no commercial interests. The NHMRC is Australia's leading expert on public health and medical research. It bases its decisions on the latest scientific evidence, ensuring that the guidelines are up to date and that the water is safe.
Why you can trust our testing
The quality of your drinking water is constantly monitored by highly trained specialists in state-of-the-art laboratories. We use the most advanced research and testing methods to detect and measure trace amounts of substances like PFAS. In fact, we conduct our tests so stringently that they pick up PFAS levels that are almost undetectable, and significantly lower than what is regulated.
Our commitment to you
We are continuously reviewing and improving our practices. Our understanding of PFAS and their long-term effects is under constant review, and we closely monitor the latest research to ensure we stay ahead of any potential risks. As we learn more, we may adapt our practices. We will communicate important updates to you as they happen.
On 20 August 2024, our Public Health Advisor Dr Kaye Power addressed the press. Dr Power is responsible for overseeing our PFAS testing programs. She has the expertise and authority to give our customers confidence that the water from Greater Sydney's taps is safe to drink.
"The levels of PFAS in our water right now are very low for all of our systems … they meet the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, which means it's safe."
What the guidelines say about PFAS
There are many types of PFAS. The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines specify limits for PFOS and PFHxS, and PFOA.
- For PFOS and PFHxS, the limit is a combined total of less than 0.070 micrograms per litre (µg/L).
- For PFOA, the limit is less than 0.56 µg/L.
The guidelines are underpinned by available scientific knowledge. They are currently being reviewed for PFAS by the National Health and Medical Research Council. When the Australian review is complete, we will work with NSW Health on the impact of those changes, if any, on us.
The Water Services Association of Australia has produced a detailed per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) fact sheet. It outlines the process of guideline development in the Australian context.