Per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemicals used to make products which resist heat, stains, grease and water. PFAS remain in the environment, including water and soil, for a long time. PFAS chemicals can build up in the body and take a long time to be removed.
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) develops the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG).
The guidelines have health-based guideline values for PFAS in drinking water. These guidelines have recently been reviewed and new draft guidelines were released for consultation in October 2024.
NSW Health also recommends all local water utilities report drinking water monitoring results to their communities.
For further information, view NSW Health’s advice for water utilities.
Walgett Shire PFAS-Testing-Results.pdf(PDF, 3MB)