Understanding PFAS in Australia
Anthony Amis, a land use researcher at Friends of the Earth Australia, highlights the widespread presence of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in Australian drinking water. His research tracks chemical contamination across the country, including pesticides and PFAS. Key resources include the Australian PFAS Chemicals Map, Australian Drinking Water Map, and Australian Pesticides Map.
No single government agency monitors PFAS nationwide. State water authorities oversee drinking water quality, but testing is uneven, and much data is not publicly available.
How Widespread is PFAS Exposure?
In May 2025, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that 85% of Australians have PFOS, PFHxS, or PFOA in their blood. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) estimates that 2-3% of PFAS exposure comes from drinking water in low-contamination areas, with most exposure coming from food and household products. In some regions, drinking water may account for higher exposure.
The Australian PFAS map identifies 315 locations where water supplies are affected. Around 37% are in Sydney and Newcastle. About 30 towns have PFOS levels exceeding 2025 guidelines, with 12 towns facing long-term contamination, affecting roughly 100,000 people. Another dozen small areas near military bases or airports also show PFAS in groundwater.
Millions more Australians, around a quarter of the population, live in areas with detectable PFAS below guidelines. Limited testing suggests the real number could be higher.
PFAS Removal in Water Supplies
Standard water treatment plants cannot remove PFAS. The most effective methods use granular activated carbon (GAC) or ion exchange resins. Where these are unavailable, authorities sometimes dilute contaminated water with cleaner sources or provide bottled water.
Australia follows non-legally binding guidelines in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWGs). Currently, only four PFAS chemicals have specific guidelines. Most contamination comes from past use of firefighting foams (AFFF) at military bases, airports, fire stations, and industrial sites. Groundwater bores are the most affected sources, though surface water can also be impacted.
PFAS at Military Bases and Fire Training Sites
The Department of Defence knew about PFAS risks as early as 1991, but began testing base water only in 2006. Williamtown in NSW recorded the highest PFAS levels (136,000 ng/L), with residents informed only in 2015. Oakey in Queensland faced similar delays.
Legal settlements have exceeded A$800 million nationally, covering remediation and lawsuits. Some communities have seen buybacks or compensation, but large-scale cleanup of residential land has not occurred.
Fire training sites, such as Fiskville in Victoria, also revealed severe contamination. Fiskville’s water showed PFAS levels as high as 275,000 ng/L. The Victorian government set up a A$52m redress scheme for impacted firefighters in 2022.
PFAS Guidelines and Testing
Initial guidelines for PFOS, PFHxS, and PFOA were set in 2016. By 2017, the NHMRC updated them to PFOS+PFHxS at 70 ng/L and PFOA at 560 ng/L. Testing increased in Victoria and Queensland, revealing contamination in numerous water supplies, mostly below guideline levels.
The National Environment Management Plan (2017–2020) established standards for contaminated soils, biosolids, and wastewater. Despite these measures, contamination persisted in several towns, including Svensson Heights, Macknade/Lucinda, Ayr, Esperance, Norfolk Island, and Avalon Airport.
In 2024, PFAS was detected in Sydney’s Blue Mountains, affecting 50,000 people. A new treatment facility was built, and NHMRC updated guidelines in June 2025 to PFOS at 8 ng/L, PFHxS at 30 ng/L, PFOA at 200 ng/L, and PFBS at 1,000 ng/L.
PFAS in Sydney Water
Sydney Water has detected 11 PFAS chemicals in raw water. The Prospect Water Filtration Plant, supplying over five million residents, reported PFOS at 0.633 ng/L and PFBA at 7.167 ng/L. PFBA levels spike during rainfall, and no guideline currently exists for it.
Recent studies in Sydney and Gippsland have found 13 new PFAS chemicals in drinking water, some for the first time globally. Researchers note that PFAS can accumulate in pipes and release later, changing contamination profiles from source to tap.
Regulatory Action
Finally, the Australian Government banned PFOS, PFHxS, and PFOA in July 2025, decades after their introduction. Despite the ban, PFAS contamination will continue to affect communities for years due to their persistence in the environment.
