New national guidelines proposing further protections from potential cancer-causing chemicals in drinking water are open to public scrutiny.

Released by the National Health and Medical Research Council this week, the updated Australian Drinking Water Guidelines recommend much lower levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. 

PFAS chemicals include more than 14,000 substances that do not break down. They are used in firefighting foams and common consumer products like non-stick pans, food packaging, dental floss, cosmetics and activewear.

While not added to drinking water, small amounts of so-called forever chemicals can be present through contamination from external sources.

Despite the draft standards being less stringent than those proposed by other countries, such as Canada and the US, Water Services Association of Australia executive director Adam Lovell said consumers can have confidence in their drinking water. “The risk from PFAS is low for most Australians, your water is safe if it meets the guidelines.”

Water expert Professor Stuart Khan – from the School of Civil Engineering at the University of Sydney – agrees. He told Government News: “The draft Australian Drinking Water Guidelines for PFAS have been produced as part of a highly evidence-based approach to water quality and safety. The drinking water guidelines are always under rolling review, which means that they’re always keeping an eye out for new updated science to incorporate.”

Because of rapid scientific developments regarding PFAS, a review was initiated by the NHMRC in 2022. “The evidence found in that review is the basis for the new proposed guidelines,” Khan said. “The experts who have been involved with the establishment of the draft guidelines obviously now consider the new draft to be robust.”

Released this week, the draft guidelines are currently open for public consultation. “If people believe there is additional scientific evidence that should have been considered, this is a chance to put that on the table,” Khan said.

He told GN it’s possible that the guidelines might change again as a result. “So I think it’s too early to say whether the draft guidelines are sufficiently robust until the draft is finalised after consultation,” said Khan. “Nonetheless, this draft is based on a very thorough review of the latest science and I believe it should be considered to be very highly protective of public health.”

NSW minister for water Rose Jackson also sought to reassure consumers tap water was safe to drink.

“We understand the community’s concerns about PFAS and are committed to transparency, ensuring the community has access to up-to-date information,” Jackson said. “The NSW government remains determined to ensuring drinking water guidelines are met.”

According to the government, only water supplied from one catchment area – in the Upper Blue Mountains – exceeds the new PFAS guidelines.

However, recent tests of the Cascade filtration plant in Katoomba reveal samples are “well within” current guidelines. “There are no immediate changes or risks when it comes to drinking water that meets our existing guidelines,” Jackson said.

Still, Sydney Water has announced it intends to upgrade the filtration plant to meet the new benchmarks.

In August, state-owned corporation WaterNSW temporarily closed Medlow Dam in the Blue Mountains after tests detected elevated levels of PFAS in untreated water. Sydney Water also revealed that low levels of PFAS were detected in June in major water treatment plants.

Meanwhile, a parliamentary select committee is inquiring into the health and environmental impacts of PFAS chemicals.

The Select Committee on PFAS will examine sources that expose people to forever chemicals and their presence in the environment, food systems and consumer goods.

The committee – which is open to submissions and due to report on or before 5 August 2025 – will look at the health, environmental, social, cultural, and economic impacts of PFAS, and how regulation can be strengthened to avoid population harm.

Describing PFAS as “the asbestos of the 21st century”, committee chair Lidia Thorpe said: “We’ve already seen worrying instances of cancer clusters with suspected links to PFAS chemicals. We cannot take them seriously enough.”