Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) regulation

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of human-made chemicals widely used in products such as:

  • food packaging
  • paints and coatings
  • clothing and cosmetics.

In the past, some firefighting foams contained PFAS. This is no longer the case.

PFAS can contaminate water sources and may pose potential health risks to humans.

Read more about PFAS in the NHMRC Review of PFAS in Australian drinking water.

Regulatory approach to PFAS in Queensland

The Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers (DLGWV) regulates the providers of safe drinking water in Queensland. We have adopted new health-based guideline values for PFAS in drinking water, following their recent publication in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG).

We have not changed the current regulatory approach the department takes in relation to drinking water.

Key requirements for drinking water providers

Each registered drinking water provider (DWP) is required to take a risk-based approach to ensure the safety of drinking water. This includes regularly assessing, managing, and monitoring the risk of PFAS or other contaminants as outlined in their individual Drinking Water Quality Management Plan (DWQMP).

Each DWP must comply with the health-based guideline value for all contaminants published in the current version of ADWG, including PFAS. As soon as new PFAS health-based guideline values are published in the ADWG, they become enforceable in Queensland.

Testing for PFAS

Each DWP over time will be required to test for PFAS to confirm compliance with the new thresholds.

The urgency of this testing is to be determined by each DWP based on their current level of risk of PFAS contamination in their drinking water supply.

Each DWP must continue testing for PFAS at least at the frequency specified in their currently approved DWQMP. For example:

  • Providers with a lower risk of PFAS contamination must undertake testing of each drinking water supply and re-assess the level of risk during the next scheduled review of their DWQMP.
  • Providers with a higher risk of PFAS contamination must decide when to test for compliance with the new health-based guideline values for each drinking water supply based on their current knowledge and available data. They are required to test and re-assess the level of risk with new data no later than during the next scheduled review of their DWQMP.

There may be some exclusions, for example, some providers may be currently reviewing their plans and have already completed the risk assessments. Contact the department if you are unsure or have questions via email drinkingwater.reporting@rdmw.qld.gov.au.

Reporting and managing PFAS

If PFAS is detected in drinking water, or in a location that represents the drinking water supplied to customers, at levels exceeding the new health-based guideline values, the responsible DWP must immediately notify the department as per the established incident reporting requirements and determine an appropriate management strategy. This may include:

  • sourcing alternative water supplies or implementing treatment processes to remove PFAS.

Each incident is to be managed by the responsible DWP in coordination with other agencies and the drinking water regulator (the DLGWV).

Working together for safe drinking water

We will continue to collaborate with all agencies to ensure the safety of Queensland's drinking water. DWPs play a critical role in managing risks and maintaining compliance with the latest health-based guidelines.