| Cascade Water Filtration Plant | PFOS (µg/L) | PFHxS (µg/L) | PFOA (µg/L) |
|---|---|---|---|
Blackheath |
0.0038 |
0.0033 |
< 0.0001 |
Katoomba |
0.0035 |
0.0032 |
0.0002 |
ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L
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We are testing for PFAS in your drinking water
We regularly test the drinking water produced by our water filtration plants for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and publish the latest results. We can reassure you that PFAS levels in all treated water samples we've tested are well below the values specified in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
Our drinking water track record
We're continuously reviewing and improving our practices around PFAS and drinking water.
We've been monitoring drinking water from the North Richmond Water Filtration Plant since 2019. In June and July 2024, we undertook sampling of treated water from the outlets of all our water filtration plants, and repeated sampling from the Cascade Water Filtration Plant because levels there were slightly higher than at other sites. We recently increased the frequency of monitoring the drinking water from the Cascade and North Richmond water filtration plants to weekly, and all other plants to monthly.
All results have been below the values specified by the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
Results for Cascade
We've conducted weekly testing of treated water at the Cascade Water Filtration Plant since 3 October 2024. Our water systems are dynamic. Residents in the Blue Mountains may receive water from either Cascade or Orchard Hills Water Filtration Plant. The interconnection between the Cascade and Orchard Hills systems varies depending on operational needs and storage capacity.
| Drinking water sampling date | Cascade Water Filtration Plant | PFOS (µg/L) | PFHxS (µg/L) | PFOA (µg/L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
31 December 2024 |
Blackheath |
0.0038 |
0.0037 |
< 0.0001 |
31 December 2024 |
Katoomba |
0.0038 |
0.0038 |
< 0.000 |
23 December 2024 |
Blackheath |
0.0052 |
0.0042 |
0.0003 |
23 December 2024 |
Katoomba |
0.0043 |
0.0037 |
0.0001 |
16 December 2024 |
Blackheath |
0.0056 |
0.0052 |
0.0004 |
16 December 2024 |
Katoomba |
0.0062 |
0.0056 |
0.0003 |
9 December 2024 |
Blackheath |
0.0067 |
0.0056 |
0.0003 |
9 December 2024 |
Katoomba |
0.0061 |
0.0051 |
0.0003 |
2 December 2024 |
Blackheath |
0.0069 |
0.0057 |
0.0003 |
2 December 2024 |
Katoomba |
0.0079 |
0.0068 |
0.0004 |
25 November 2024 |
Blackheath |
0.0081 |
0.0049 |
0.0002 |
25 November 2024 |
Katoomba |
0.0083 |
0.0058 |
0.0001 |
18 November 2024 |
Blackheath |
0.0069 |
0.0084 |
0.0002 |
18 November 2024 |
Katoomba |
0.0071 |
0.0080 |
0.0004 |
12 November 2024 |
Blackheath |
0.0098 |
0.0083 |
0.0006 |
12 November 2024 |
Katoomba |
0.0082 |
0.0097 |
0.0005 |
5 November 2024 |
Blackheath |
0.0079 |
0.0075 |
0.0004 |
5 November 2024 |
Katoomba |
0.0084 |
0.0068 |
0.0003 |
31 October 2024* |
Blackheath |
Not available |
Not available |
Not available |
31 October 2024* |
Katoomba |
Not available |
Not available |
Not available |
22 October 2024 |
Blackheath |
0.0100 |
0.0109 |
0.0006 |
22 October 2024 |
Katoomba |
0.0095 |
0.0104 |
0.0006 |
15 & 16 October 2024 |
Blackheath |
0.0084 |
0.0075 |
0.0005 |
15 & 16 October 2024 |
Katoomba |
0.0110 |
0.0081 |
0.0005 |
9 October 2024 |
Blackheath |
0.0118 |
0.0117 |
0.0006 |
9 October 2024 |
Katoomba |
0.0127 |
0.0147 |
0.0006 |
3 October 2024 |
Blackheath |
0.0089 |
0.0123 |
0.0004 |
3 October 2024 |
Katoomba |
0.0091 |
0.0123 |
0.0006 |
17 September 2024 |
Blackheath |
0.0108 |
0.0133 |
< 0.0010 |
17 September 2024 |
Katoomba |
0.0131 |
0.0139 |
< 0.0010 |
27 August 2024 |
Blackheath |
0.0134 |
0.0130 |
< 0.0001 |
27 August 2024 |
Katoomba |
0.0134 |
0.0143 |
< 0.0001 |
9 July 2024 |
Blackheath |
0.0147 |
0.0191 |
< 0.0001 |
9 July 2024 |
Blackheath (duplicate sample) |
0.0146 |
0.0160 |
< 0.0001 |
9 July 2024 |
Katoomba |
0.0140 |
0.0179 |
< 0.0001 |
25 June 2024 |
Blackheath |
0.0155 |
0.0136 |
< 0.0001 |
25 June 2024 |
Katoomba |
0.0164 |
0.0142 |
< 0.0001 |
ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L
* Samples were collected, but results are not available as testing did not comply with our quality control criteria.
Results for North Richmond
In 2018, the community raised concerns that PFAS from the Royal Australian Air (RAAF) Base Richmond could contaminate drinking water. In 2019, we undertook a targeted monitoring program to assess the potential for this to be the case. Our North Richmond Water Filtration Plant sources raw water from the Hawkesbury-Nepean River 13 kilometres upstream of where the water from the RAAF drains into the river. Therefore, the low readings are consistent with expectations.
Following the 2019 study, we conducted an annual monitoring program for the North Richmond plant. This commenced in November 2023. We've conducted weekly testing of treated water at the plant since October 2023.
| Drinking water sampling date | Water filtration plant | PFOS (µg/L) | PFHxS (µg/L) | PFOA (µg/L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
31 December 2024 |
North Richmond |
0.0021 |
0.0036 |
0.0012 |
23 December 2024 |
North Richmond |
0.0020 |
0.0027 |
0.0015 |
16 December 2024 |
North Richmond |
0.0024 |
0.0040 |
0.0015 |
9 December 2024 |
North Richmond |
0.0020 |
0.0032 |
0.0014 |
2 December 2024* |
North Richmond |
Not available |
Not available |
Not available |
25 November 2024 |
North Richmond |
0.0031 |
0.0040 |
0.0016 |
18 November 2024 |
North Richmond |
0.0014 |
0.0037 |
0.0012 |
12 November 2024 |
North Richmond |
0.0019 |
0.0034 |
0.0013 |
5 November 2024 |
North Richmond |
0.0019 |
0.0036 |
0.0016 |
31 October 2024* |
North Richmond |
Not available |
Not available |
Not available |
22 October 2024 |
North Richmond |
0.0015 |
0.0031 |
0.0014 |
15 & 16 October 2024 |
North Richmond |
0.0014 |
0.0034 |
0.0010 |
9 October 2024 |
North Richmond |
0.0013 |
0.0043 |
0.0014 |
3 October 2024 |
North Richmond |
0.0009 |
0.0031 |
0.0007 |
25 June 2024 |
North Richmond |
0.0011 |
0.0014 |
< 0.0001 |
15 January 2024 |
North Richmond |
0.0021 |
0.0019 |
< 0.0010 |
6 November 2023 |
North Richmond |
< 0.0020 |
0.0026 |
< 0.0010 |
14 September 2023 |
North Richmond |
< 0.0020 |
0.0019 |
< 0.0010 |
ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L
* Samples were collected, but results are not available as testing did not comply with our quality control criteria.
| Drinking water sampling date | Weather | PFOS (µg/L) | PFHxS (µg/L) | PFOA (µg/L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
29 April 2019 |
Dry |
0.0039 |
0.0036 |
0.0037 |
15 April 2019 |
Dry |
0.0041 |
0.0039 |
0.0037 |
4 April 2019 |
Dry |
0.0043 |
0.0031 |
0.0031 |
21 March 2019 |
Dry |
0.0028 |
0.0027 |
0.0017 |
19 March 2019 |
Wet |
0.0027 |
0.0028 |
0.0020 |
15 March 2019 |
Wet |
0.0030 |
0.0025 |
0.0019 |
5 March 2019 |
Dry |
0.0043 |
0.0037 |
0.0030 |
18 February 2019 |
Dry |
0.0036 |
0.0038 |
0.0029 |
23 January 2019 |
Wet |
0.0055 |
0.0042 |
0.0036 |
23 January 2019 |
Wet |
0.0057 |
0.0042 |
0.0038 |
ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L
Results for all other water filtration plants
Commencing in October 2024, we increased our testing for PFAS at all our plants to monthly (except Cascade and North Richmond, which are tested weekly).
PFAS samples for Orchard Hills and Warragamba water filtration plants were resampled on 12 December as testing did not comply with our quality control criteria for samples collected on 2 December.
| Water filtration plant | PFOS (µg/L) | PFHxS (µg/L) | PFOA (µg/L) |
|---|---|---|---|
Orchard HIlls |
0.0006 |
0.0007 |
0.0005 |
Warragamba |
0.0008 |
0.0006 |
0.0004 |
ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L
PFAS samples for Warragamba and Orchard Hills water filtration plants were collected on 2 December. Results are not available as testing did not comply with our quality control criteria. Resampling was conducted on 12 December.
| Water filtration plant | PFOS (µg/L) | PFHxS (µg/L) | PFOA (µg/L) |
|---|---|---|---|
Macarthur – Appin |
< 0.0001 |
0.0003 |
< 0.0001 |
Macarthur – Campbelltown |
< 0.0001 |
0.0003 |
< 0.0001 |
Illawarra |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
0.0003 |
Nepean |
< 0.0001 |
0.0002 |
< 0.0001 |
Prospect |
0.0007 |
0.0008 |
0.0005 |
Woronora |
< 0.0001 |
0.0003 |
< 0.0001 |
ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L
PFAS samples for Macarthur, Illawarra and Woronora water filtration plants were resampled on 19 November as testing did not comply with our quality control criteria for samples collected on 4 November.
| Water filtration plant | PFOS (µg/L) | PFHxS (µg/L) | PFOA (µg/L) |
|---|---|---|---|
Macarthur – Appin |
0.0004 |
0.0002 |
< 0.0001 |
Macarthur – Campbelltown |
< 0.0001 |
0.0002 |
< 0.0001 |
Illawarra |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
0.0001 |
Woronora |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L
PFAS samples for Macarthur, Illawarra and Woronora water filtration plants were collected on 4 November. Results are not available, as testing did not comply with our quality control criteria. The next set of sample results will be published on 29 November.
| Water filtration plant | PFOS (µg/L) | PFHxS (µg/L) | PFOA (µg/L) |
|---|---|---|---|
Nepean |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
Orchard Hills |
< 0.0001 |
0.0008 |
0.0002 |
Prospect |
< 0.0001 |
0.0007 |
0.0002 |
Warragamba |
< 0.0001 |
0.0007 |
0.0002 |
ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L
| Water filtration plant | PFOS (µg/L) | PFHxS (µg/L) | PFOA (µg/L) |
|---|---|---|---|
Macarthur – Appin |
< 0.0001 |
0.0002 |
< 0.0001 |
Macarthur – Campbelltown |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L
| Water filtration plant | PFOS (µg/L) | PFHxS (µg/L) | PFOA (µg/L) |
|---|---|---|---|
Illawarra |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
Nepean |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
Orchard Hills |
< 0.0001 |
0.0008 |
< 0.0001 |
Prospect |
< 0.0001 |
0.0006 |
0.0004 |
Warragamba |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
Woronora |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L
| Water filtration plant | PFOS (µg/L) | PFHxS (µg/L) | PFOA (µg/L) |
|---|---|---|---|
Illawarra |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
Macarthur – Appin |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
Macarthur – Campbelltown |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
Nepean |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
Orchard Hills |
0.0012 |
0.0009 |
< 0.0001 |
Prospect |
< 0.0001 |
0.0008 |
< 0.0001 |
Warragamba |
< 0.0001 |
0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
Woronora |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
< 0.0001 |
ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L