Understanding PFAS in Australian Water

In 2020, the Federal Court approved a $212 million settlement for communities near three Australian Defence Force bases where PFAS in Australian water had contaminated local supplies. The towns of Williamtown, Oakey, and Katherine became the public face of a problem that had been building for decades: synthetic chemicals from firefighting foam had leached into groundwater and, in some cases, into drinking water.

PFAS contamination is now one of the most discussed water quality issues in Australia. But how widespread is it, what do the guidelines actually say, and should you be concerned about your own tap water? Here’s what the evidence shows.

What Are PFAS?

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They’re a group of over 14,000 synthetic chemicals that have been manufactured since the 1940s for use in non-stick coatings, waterproof fabrics, food packaging, and firefighting foams.

The defining feature of PFAS is their carbon-fluorine bond, one of the strongest in chemistry. This makes them extremely useful in products that need to resist heat, water, and grease. It also makes them nearly indestructible in the environment.

Once PFAS enter soil or water, they don’t break down through normal biological or chemical processes. They can persist for decades, cycling through waterways, accumulating in sediment, and concentrating in living organisms. This is why they’ve earned the name “forever chemicals.”

The PFAS compounds most commonly found in Australian water are PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid), PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), and PFHxS (perfluorohexane sulfonic acid). All three were key ingredients in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), the firefighting foam used extensively at military bases and airports across Australia from the 1970s through the early 2000s.

How PFAS Get Into Australian Water

The primary pathway for PFAS contamination in Australia is through firefighting foam. When AFFF was used during training exercises at Defence Force bases and airports, the chemicals soaked into soil and migrated into groundwater over time. Rainwater then carried PFAS into nearby creeks, rivers, and bores.

Other sources include industrial discharges from manufacturing facilities, landfill leachate where PFAS-containing products have been disposed of, and wastewater treatment plants where household products containing PFAS wash down the drain.

For most Australians, the exposure risk through drinking water is small. The NHMRC estimates that drinking water accounts for roughly 2-3% of total PFAS exposure in areas with low contamination levels. The majority of exposure, up to 90%, comes from food and household products [1].

Which Australian Areas Have Been Affected?

Three locations have been at the centre of Australia’s PFAS contamination story.

Williamtown, NSW. The RAAF Base Williamtown, north of Newcastle, used AFFF extensively during firefighting training. PFAS contaminated the local groundwater, affecting surrounding communities who relied on bore water. Testing found PFOS levels in some bores reaching hundreds of times above guideline values. Residents were advised not to consume bore water or locally grown produce, and a major remediation program is ongoing.

Oakey, QLD. The Army Aviation Centre at Oakey, west of Toowoomba, used firefighting foam from the 1970s to approximately 2005. PFAS penetrated the soil and contaminated groundwater, with PFOS levels ranging from 0.2 to 500 micrograms per litre in some bore samples [2]. The town’s reticulated water supply was connected to an alternative source, and blood testing of residents found elevated PFAS levels.

Katherine, NT. RAAF Base Tindal near Katherine contaminated groundwater used by parts of the community. A $24 million water treatment plant was built to treat the town’s supply, and residents in affected areas were provided alternative water sources during the remediation period.

Beyond these three sites, Friends of the Earth Australia has documented approximately 450 PFAS detections from 66 locations across the country [3]. Most of these are near airports, military facilities, or industrial sites. Some regional water supplies have also recorded low-level detections.

It’s worth noting that the vast majority of reticulated (mains) water supplies in Australian cities and towns either have no detectable PFAS or have levels well below guideline limits. The contamination issue has been concentrated around specific point sources.

Current ADWG Guidelines for PFAS in Australian Water

The NHMRC updated the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines in June 2025 with significantly tighter limits for PFAS [4]. The new health-based guideline values are:

These values represent the maximum acceptable concentration for each compound in drinking water, set with safety margins to protect against lifetime exposure.

The health effects that informed these limits include potential bone marrow effects (PFOS), pancreatic effects and carcinogenicity (PFOA), and thyroid hormone disruption (PFHxS and PFBS), based primarily on animal studies [5].

Two important points about these guidelines. First, most Australian public water supplies already meet the new limits. State and territory governments have confirmed that metropolitan and major regional supplies comply. Second, these are health-based values with built-in safety factors. Occasional readings slightly above a guideline do not mean immediate health risk.

From 1 July 2025, Australia has also banned the manufacture, import, export, and use of PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS, aligning with the PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (NEMP) 3.0 released in March 2025 [6].

Health Effects: What the Evidence Shows

Research into PFAS health effects is ongoing, and the science is still evolving. Based on current evidence, the NHMRC and international health bodies have identified several areas of concern.

Animal studies have linked high PFAS exposure to thyroid disruption, liver effects, immune system changes, and certain cancers. In human populations, some studies have found associations between elevated blood PFAS levels and increased cholesterol, thyroid disease, and kidney cancer, particularly in communities with high occupational or environmental exposure [7].

The ANU PFAS Health Study, which focused on residents of Williamtown, Oakey, and Katherine, found elevated blood serum PFAS concentrations and increased psychological distress in the three communities [8]. The study noted higher rates of some health conditions but cautioned that establishing direct causation is difficult.

For the general Australian population drinking mains water, the exposure levels are orders of magnitude lower than those seen in contaminated communities. The NHMRC’s position is that at the trace levels typically found in treated water supplies, the health risk is low. The guidelines use conservative safety factors to account for uncertainty.

This is an area where balanced perspective matters. PFAS are a legitimate concern, and the tightened guidelines reflect that. But for most Australians on mains water, the levels present in tap water are well within safety margins.

What Filters Can Remove PFAS?

Standard water treatment processes used by utilities, such as coagulation, sedimentation, and chlorination, are mostly ineffective at removing PFAS [5]. However, several household filtration technologies do work.

Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are the most effective option. They push water through a semi-permeable membrane that blocks PFAS molecules, achieving over 99% removal of longer-chain compounds like PFOS and PFOA. RO systems sit under the kitchen bench and filter water at the point of use. If you’re in an area with known PFAS contamination, this is the most reliable choice. Check our filter recommendations for suburbs like Williamtown or Katherine.

Granular activated carbon (GAC) filters are also effective, particularly for longer-chain PFAS. These work by adsorbing PFAS molecules onto the surface of the carbon. GAC filters are common in benchtop and under-sink systems and are generally more affordable than RO. They’re less effective for shorter-chain PFAS compounds like PFBS.

Standard carbon jug filters may provide some reduction in PFAS levels, but they are not reliably tested or certified for PFAS removal. If PFAS is your primary concern, a dedicated RO or GAC system is a better investment.

When choosing a filter, look for independent certification for PFAS removal. Not all filters marketed as “removing contaminants” have been tested against PFAS specifically.

What You Can Do

If you’re concerned about PFAS in Australian water, here are practical steps.

• Check your water utility’s reports for PFAS testing data. Most major utilities now test for and publish PFAS results. Look up your utility on WaterScore: Sydney Water, Melbourne Water, SA Water, or Hunter Water.
• Look up your suburb’s water quality on WaterScore to see what parameters are reported for your area. Try Newcastle or the Queensland water quality page for areas near known PFAS sites.
• Consider a reverse osmosis or GAC filter if you live near a known contamination site or use bore water. See our best water filter recommendations for guidance on choosing the right system.
• Don’t drink untested bore water in areas near military bases, airports, or industrial sites without getting it tested first.
• Stay informed on guideline changes. The NHMRC guidelines are updated as new evidence emerges, and state EPAs publish investigation results for known contamination sites.
• Contact your water utility directly if you have specific concerns. They can provide testing data for your supply zone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PFAS in my tap water?

It depends on where you live. The majority of Australian public drinking water supplies have no detectable PFAS or levels well below the NHMRC guideline values. Areas near former military bases or firefighting training sites, such as Williamtown, Oakey, and Katherine, have historically had higher levels, though remediation is underway. Check your local water utility’s quality reports for specific testing results.

What filter removes PFAS from water?

Reverse osmosis systems are the most effective household option, removing over 99% of longer-chain PFAS compounds like PFOS and PFOA. Granular activated carbon (GAC) filters also reduce PFAS levels, particularly for longer-chain varieties. Standard carbon jug filters may offer some reduction but are less reliable. Look for filters independently certified for PFAS removal.

Are PFAS in Australian water dangerous?

At the trace levels found in most Australian tap water, the health risk is considered low. The NHMRC sets guideline values with large safety margins built in. However, long-term exposure to elevated PFAS levels may be linked to health effects including thyroid disruption and certain cancers. The guidelines are designed to keep lifetime exposure well below levels associated with harm.

What are the new Australian PFAS drinking water limits?

The NHMRC updated the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines in June 2025 with stricter PFAS limits. PFOS is now 8 ng/L (down from 70 ng/L), PFOA is 200 ng/L, PFHxS is 30 ng/L, and PFBS is 1,000 ng/L. Most Australian water supplies already meet these new limits.

Why are PFAS called forever chemicals?

PFAS contain extremely strong carbon-fluorine bonds that do not break down under normal environmental conditions. Once released into soil, water, or the atmosphere, they persist for decades or longer. This persistence means PFAS accumulate in the environment and in living organisms over time, which is why scientists and regulators refer to them as forever chemicals.

Summary

PFAS in Australian water is a real issue, but one that affects specific locations far more than the general population. The contamination at Williamtown, Oakey, and Katherine highlighted serious failures in managing firefighting chemicals near water supplies. In response, the NHMRC tightened drinking water guidelines in 2025, and Australia has banned the most harmful PFAS compounds. For most Australians on mains water, PFAS levels are either undetectable or well below safety limits. If you live near a known contamination site or use bore water, a reverse osmosis or granular activated carbon filter provides effective protection. Check your suburb’s water quality data on WaterScore and contact your utility if you have concerns.

Sources

1. NHMRC. (2025). NHMRC Review of PFAS in Australian Drinking Water. nhmrc.gov.au
2. Shine Lawyers. (2020). PFAS Contamination Class Actions: Oakey. shine.com.au
3. Friends of the Earth Australia. (2024). PFAS Chemicals in Australian Drinking Water: A Summary. foe.org.au
4. NHMRC. (2025). Updated Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. nhmrc.gov.au
5. NHMRC. (2025). Per- and Poly-fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Australian Drinking Water Guidelines Part 5. guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au
6. Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. (2025). PFAS National Environmental Management Plan 3.0. dcceew.gov.au
7. UNSW Sydney. (2024). PFAS Forever Chemicals Above Drinking Water Guidelines in Global Source Water. unsw.edu.au
8. Australian National University. (2021). PFAS Health Study: Overall Summary. nceph.anu.edu.au
9. Parliament of Australia. (2018). Chapter 4: PFAS in Drinking Water. aph.gov.au