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PFAS monitoring results

We're testing for PFAS in drinking water

We regularly test the drinking water produced by our water filtration plants for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and publish the latest results as part of our commitment to water quality. All drinking water samples tested for PFAS are within the current Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG).

We're in a transition period to lower PFAS levels in the Blue Mountains in readiness for the introduction of the updated ADWG, expected to be finalised and released by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) later this year.

Where your water comes from

Our drinking water track record

Results for Cascade

Results for North Richmond

Results for all other water filtration plants

Additional PFAS results for all plants

Our drinking water track record

We're continuously reviewing and improving our practices around PFAS and drinking water.

We've been monitoring drinking water from the North Richmond Water Filtration Plant since 2019. In June and July 2024, we undertook sampling of treated water from the outlets of all our water filtration plants, and repeated sampling from the Cascade Water Filtration Plant because levels there were slightly higher than at other sites. We recently increased the frequency of monitoring the drinking water from the Cascade and North Richmond water filtration plants to weekly, and all other plants to monthly.

All results have been below the values specified by the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

PFAS values specified by the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) + perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) = 0.070 µg/L
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) = 0.56 µg/L

Results for Cascade

We've conducted weekly testing of treated water at the Cascade Water Filtration Plant since 3 October 2024. Our water systems are dynamic. Residents in the Blue Mountains may receive water from either Cascade or Orchard Hills Water Filtration Plant. The interconnection between the Cascade and Orchard Hills systems varies depending on operational needs and storage capacity.

The PFAS results are trending down. We anticipate that this decline will continue and the results will be consistently below the proposed Australian Drinking Water Guidelines once the new mobile treatment plant and system have stabilised.

Cascade Water Filtration Plant	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
Blackheath	0.0016	0.0012	< 0.0001
Katoomba	0.0015	0.0013	< 0.0001

ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L

Drinking water sampling date	Cascade Water Filtration Plant	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
29 April 2025	Blackheath	0.0017	0.0012	< 0.0001
29 April 2025	Katoomba	0.0015	0.0013	< 0.0001
22 April 2025	Blackheath	0.0014	0.0014	< 0.0001
22 April 2025	Katoomba	0.0013	0.0011	< 0.0001
15 April 2025	Blackheath	0.0018	0.0014	< 0.0001
15 April 2025	Katoomba	0.0017	0.0015	0.0001
8 April 2025	Blackheath	0.0015	0.0014	0.0001
8 April 2025	Katoomba	0.0014	0.0014	< 0.0001
1 April 2025	Blackheath	0.0015	0.0014	< 0.0001
1 April 2025	Katoomba	0.0015	0.0013	< 0.0001
25 March 2025	Blackheath	0.0014	0.0014	0.0001
25 March 2025	Katoomba	0.0014	0.0013	0.0001
18 March 2025	Blackheath	0.0014	0.0012	< 0.0001
18 March 2025	Katoomba	0.0017	0.0015	< 0.0001
11 March 2025	Blackheath	0.0022	0.0018	< 0.0001
11 March 2025	Katoomba	0.0022	0.0019	< 0.0001
3 March 2025*	Blackheath	Not available	Not available	Not available
3 March 2025*	Katoomba	Not available	Not available	Not available
24 February 2025	Blackheath	0.0018	0.0014	< 0.0001
24 February 2025	Katoomba	0.0014	0.0013	< 0.0001
17 February 2025	Blackheath	0.0020	0.0015	0.0001
17 February 2025	Katoomba	0.0022	0.0018	< 0.0001
10 February 2025	Blackheath	0.0021	0.0014	0.0001
10 February 2025	Katoomba	0.0021	0.0018	< 0.0001
3 February 2025	Blackheath	0.0038	0.0025	< 0.0001
3 February 2025	Katoomba	0.0027	0.0028	< 0.0001
28 January 2025	Blackheath	0.0028	0.0024	< 0.0001
28 January 2025	Katoomba	0.0030	0.0028	< 0.0001
20 January 2025	Blackheath	0.0036	0.0026	< 0.0001
20 January 2025	Katoomba	0.0043	0.0033	0.0002
13 January 2025	Blackheath	0.0037	0.0030	< 0.0001
13 January 2025	Katoomba	0.0034	0.0029	< 0.0001
6 January 2025	Blackheath	0.0038	0.0033	< 0.0001
6 January 2025	Katoomba	0.0035	0.0032	0.0002
31 December 2024	Blackheath	0.0038	0.0037	< 0.0001
31 December 2024	Katoomba	0.0038	0.0038	< 0.000
23 December 2024	Blackheath	0.0052	0.0042	0.0003
23 December 2024	Katoomba	0.0043	0.0037	0.0001
16 December 2024	Blackheath	0.0056	0.0052	0.0004
16 December 2024	Katoomba	0.0062	0.0056	0.0003
9 December 2024	Blackheath	0.0067	0.0056	0.0003
9 December 2024	Katoomba	0.0061	0.0051	0.0003
2 December 2024	Blackheath	0.0069	0.0057	0.0003
2 December 2024	Katoomba	0.0079	0.0068	0.0004
25 November 2024	Blackheath	0.0081	0.0049	0.0002
25 November 2024	Katoomba	0.0083	0.0058	0.0001
18 November 2024	Blackheath	0.0069	0.0084	0.0002
18 November 2024	Katoomba	0.0071	0.0080	0.0004
12 November 2024	Blackheath	0.0098	0.0083	0.0006
12 November 2024	Katoomba	0.0082	0.0097	0.0005
5 November 2024	Blackheath	0.0079	0.0075	0.0004
5 November 2024	Katoomba	0.0084	0.0068	0.0003
31 October 2024*	Blackheath	Not available	Not available	Not available
31 October 2024*	Katoomba	Not available	Not available	Not available
22 October 2024	Blackheath	0.0100	0.0109	0.0006
22 October 2024	Katoomba	0.0095	0.0104	0.0006
15 & 16 October 2024	Blackheath	0.0084	0.0075	0.0005
15 & 16 October 2024	Katoomba	0.0110	0.0081	0.0005
9 October 2024	Blackheath	0.0118	0.0117	0.0006
9 October 2024	Katoomba	0.0127	0.0147	0.0006
3 October 2024	Blackheath	0.0089	0.0123	0.0004
3 October 2024	Katoomba	0.0091	0.0123	0.0006
17 September 2024	Blackheath	0.0108	0.0133	< 0.0010
17 September 2024	Katoomba	0.0131	0.0139	< 0.0010
27 August 2024	Blackheath	0.0134	0.0130	< 0.0001
27 August 2024	Katoomba	0.0134	0.0143	< 0.0001
9 July 2024	Blackheath	0.0147	0.0191	< 0.0001
9 July 2024	Blackheath (duplicate sample)	0.0146	0.0160	< 0.0001
9 July 2024	Katoomba	0.0140	0.0179	< 0.0001
25 June 2024	Blackheath	0.0155	0.0136	< 0.0001
25 June 2024	Katoomba	0.0164	0.0142	< 0.0001

ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L

* Samples were collected, but results are not available as testing did not comply with our quality control criteria.

Repeat monitoring samples – Jamieson and Shipley Reservoirs

In April 2025, we conducted a more detailed and targeted PFAS monitoring program across locations in the Blue Mountains, as part of our commitment to water quality.

Jamieson and Shipley Reservoirs, which are intermittently used and provide very limited supply to customers, returned results that meet the current ADWG. However, they did return results that exceed the proposed new guidelines for PFOS. 

Best practice is to repeat a sample if a test result is not typical, and repeat samples were collected from Jamieson and Shipley Reservoirs. The PFOS result for Shipley Reservoir was slightly lower than the first sample. The PFOS result for Jamieson Reservoir was higher than the first sample, but still within the current ADWG. It is not unusual to have some variability between sample results.

Despite the current ADWG requirements being met, we have isolated Jamieson Reservoir from the network while we empty, clean, disinfect and remove any sediment. It will be refilled with water from the Cascade Water Filtration Plant. The new water in Jamieson Reservoir will then be tested to ensure it meets both the current and proposed ADWG before it comes back online.

As part of this process, we will also test any sediment removed from Jamieson Reservoir. It will then be classified to the NSW Environmental Protection Authority's (EPA's) waste classification and disposed of accordingly.

Shipley Reservoir is also being depleted using tankers. It will be refilled with water from the Cascade Water Filtration Plant. The new water in Shipley Reservoir will then be tested to ensure it meets both the current and proposed ADWG. 

These are the test results for the Blue Mountains water supply network (29.6 KB, XLSX) taken on 7 and 15 April 2025.

Site	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
Shipley Reservoir (WS401)	0.0090	0.0069	0.0004
Jamieson Reservoir (WS390)	0.0287	0.0234	0.0012

ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L

Results for North Richmond

In 2018, the community raised concerns that PFAS from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Richmond could contaminate drinking water. In 2019, we undertook a targeted monitoring program to assess the potential for this to be the case. Our North Richmond Water Filtration Plant sources raw water from the Hawkesbury-Nepean River 13 kilometres upstream of where the water from the RAAF drains into the river. Therefore, the low readings are consistent with expectations.

Following the 2019 study, we conducted an annual monitoring program for the North Richmond plant. This commenced in November 2023. We've conducted weekly testing of treated water at the plant since October 2023.

Water filtration plant	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
North Richmond	0.0012	0.0024	0.0015

ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L

Drinking water sampling date	Water filtration plant	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
28 April 2025	North Richmond	0.0013	0.0024	0.0013
22 April 2025	North Richmond	0.0012	0.0023	0.0012
15 April 2025	North Richmond	0.0015	0.0029	0.0013
8 April 2025	North Richmond	0.0012	0.0022	0.0012
31 March 2025	North Richmond	0.0018	0.0035	0.0017
26 March 2025	North Richmond	0.0015	0.0029	0.0015
17 March 2025	North Richmond	0.0020	0.0031	0.0015
10 March 2025	North Richmond	0.0018	0.0029	0.0015
3 March 2025	North Richmond	0.0022	0.0034	0.0016
24 February 2025	North Richmond	0.0012	0.0021	0.0012
17 February 2025	North Richmond	0.0015	0.0021	0.0010
10 February 2025	North Richmond	0.0015	0.0024	0.0013
3 February 2025	North Richmond	0.0014	0.0016	0.0011
28 January 2025	North Richmond	0.0014	0.0020	0.0011
20 January 2025	North Richmond	0.0013	0.0022	0.0012
13 January 2025	North Richmond	0.0014	0.0026	0.0010
6 January 2025	North Richmond	0.0018	0.0030	0.0015
31 December 2024	North Richmond	0.0021	0.0036	0.0012
23 December 2024	North Richmond	0.0020	0.0027	0.0015
16 December 2024	North Richmond	0.0024	0.0040	0.0015
9 December 2024	North Richmond	0.0020	0.0032	0.0014
2 December 2024*	North Richmond	Not available	Not available	Not available
25 November 2024	North Richmond	0.0031	0.0040	0.0016
18 November 2024	North Richmond	0.0014	0.0037	0.0012
12 November 2024	North Richmond	0.0019	0.0034	0.0013
5 November 2024	North Richmond	0.0019	0.0036	0.0016
31 October 2024*	North Richmond	Not available	Not available	Not available
22 October 2024	North Richmond	0.0015	0.0031	0.0014
15 & 16 October 2024	North Richmond	0.0014	0.0034	0.0010
9 October 2024	North Richmond	0.0013	0.0043	0.0014
3 October 2024	North Richmond	0.0009	0.0031	0.0007
25 June 2024	North Richmond	0.0011	0.0014	< 0.0001
15 January 2024	North Richmond	0.0021	0.0019	< 0.0010
6 November 2023	North Richmond	< 0.0020	0.0026	< 0.0010
14 September 2023	North Richmond	< 0.0020	0.0019	< 0.0010

ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L

* Samples were collected, but results are not available as testing did not comply with our quality control criteria.

Drinking water sampling date	Weather	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
29 April 2019	Dry	0.0039	0.0036	0.0037
15 April 2019	Dry	0.0041	0.0039	0.0037
4 April 2019	Dry	0.0043	0.0031	0.0031
21 March 2019	Dry	0.0028	0.0027	0.0017
19 March 2019	Wet	0.0027	0.0028	0.0020
15 March 2019	Wet	0.0030	0.0025	0.0019
5 March 2019	Dry	0.0043	0.0037	0.0030
18 February 2019	Dry	0.0036	0.0038	0.0029
23 January 2019	Wet	0.0055	0.0042	0.0036
23 January 2019	Wet	0.0057	0.0042	0.0038

ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L

Results for all other water filtration plants

Commencing in October 2024, we increased our testing for PFAS at all our plants to monthly (except Cascade and North Richmond, which are tested weekly).

Water filtration plant	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
Macarthur – Appin	0.0005	0.0002	< 0.0001
Macarthur – Campbelltown	< 0.0001	0.0002	< 0.0001
Illawarra	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001
Nepean	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001
Orchard Hills	0.0010	0.0006	0.0004
Prospect	0.0009	0.0008	< 0.0001
Warragamba	0.0009	0.0006	0.0005
Woronora	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001

ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L

Water filtration plant	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
Macarthur – Appin	0.0007	0.0005	< 0.0001
Macarthur – Campbelltown	< 0.0001	0.0003	< 0.0001
Illawarra	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001
Nepean	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001
Orchard Hills	0.0012	0.0009	0.0005
Prospect	< 0.0001	0.0008	0.0004
Warragamba	0.0009	0.0008	0.0004
Woronora	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001

ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L

Water filtration plant	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
Macarthur – Appin	< 0.0001	0.0002	< 0.0001
Macarthur – Campbelltown	< 0.0001	0.0002	< 0.0001
Illawarra	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001
Nepean	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001
Orchard Hills	0.0010	0.0007	< 0.0001
Prospect	< 0.0001	0.0007	< 0.0001
Warragamba	0.0010	0.0008	< 0.0001
Woronora	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001

ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L

Water filtration plant	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
Macarthur – Appin	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001
Macarthur – Campbelltown	< 0.0001	0.0003	< 0.0001
Illawarra	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001
Nepean	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001
Orchard Hills	< 0.0001	0.0008	0.0004
Prospect	< 0.0001	0.0008	0.0004
Warragamba	0.0010	0.0008	0.0003
Woronora	< 0.0001	0.0003	< 0.0001

ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L

Water filtration plant	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
Macarthur – Appin	< 0.0001	0.0002	< 0.0001
Macarthur – Campbelltown	< 0.0001	0.0002	< 0.0001
Illawarra	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001
Nepean	< 0.0001	0.0002	< 0.0001
Orchard Hills	0.0007	0.0006	0.0002
Prospect	0.0007	0.0006	0.0003
Warragamba	0.0008	0.0007	0.0004
Woronora	0.0004	0.0002	0.0003

ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L

PFAS samples for Orchard Hills and Warragamba water filtration plants were resampled on 12 December as testing did not comply with our quality control criteria for samples collected on 2 December.

Water filtration plant	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
Orchard HIlls	0.0006	0.0007	0.0005
Warragamba	0.0008	0.0006	0.0004

ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L

PFAS samples for Warragamba and Orchard Hills water filtration plants were collected on 2 December. Results are not available as testing did not comply with our quality control criteria. Resampling was conducted on 12 December.

Water filtration plant	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
Macarthur – Appin	< 0.0001	0.0003	< 0.0001
Macarthur – Campbelltown	< 0.0001	0.0003	< 0.0001
Illawarra	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	0.0003
Nepean	< 0.0001	0.0002	< 0.0001
Prospect	0.0007	0.0008	0.0005
Woronora	< 0.0001	0.0003	< 0.0001

ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L

PFAS samples for Macarthur, Illawarra and Woronora water filtration plants were resampled on 19 November as testing did not comply with our quality control criteria for samples collected on 4 November.

Water filtration plant	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
Macarthur – Appin	0.0004	0.0002	< 0.0001
Macarthur – Campbelltown	< 0.0001	0.0002	< 0.0001
Illawarra	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	0.0001
Woronora	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001

ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L

PFAS samples for Macarthur, Illawarra and Woronora water filtration plants were collected on 4 November. Results are not available, as testing did not comply with our quality control criteria. The next set of sample results will be published on 29 November.

Water filtration plant	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
Nepean	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001
Orchard Hills	< 0.0001	0.0008	0.0002
Prospect	< 0.0001	0.0007	0.0002
Warragamba	< 0.0001	0.0007	0.0002

ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L

Water filtration plant	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
Macarthur – Appin	< 0.0001	0.0002	< 0.0001
Macarthur – Campbelltown	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001

ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L

Water filtration plant	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
Illawarra	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001
Nepean	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001
Orchard Hills	< 0.0001	0.0008	< 0.0001
Prospect	< 0.0001	0.0006	0.0004
Warragamba	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001
Woronora	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001

ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L

Water filtration plant	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
Illawarra	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001
Macarthur – Appin	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001
Macarthur – Campbelltown	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001
Nepean	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001
Orchard Hills	0.0012	0.0009	< 0.0001
Prospect	< 0.0001	0.0008	< 0.0001
Warragamba	< 0.0001	0.0001	< 0.0001
Woronora	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001

ADWG values: PFOS + PFHxS = 0.070 µg/L, PFOA = 0.56 µg/L

Additional PFAS results for all plants

We regularly test drinking water at all water filtration plants for a suite of other PFAS compounds, including 42 that don't have a specified PFAS value in the current Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. Download the spreadsheets below for monthly results.

Monthly data for additional 42 PFAS

April 2025 data for 42 PFAS (20.8 KB, XLSX)

March 2025 data for 42 PFAS (21.3 KB, XLSX)

February 2025 data for 42 PFAS (20 KB, XLSX)

January 2025 data for 42 PFAS (40 KB, XLSX)

PFAS monitoring results

We're testing for PFAS in drinking water

Our drinking water track record

Results for Cascade

Samples taken 6 May 2025

Ongoing monitoring program results

Repeat monitoring samples – Jamieson and Shipley Reservoirs

Repeat sample results taken 15 April 2025

Results for North Richmond

Samples taken 5 May 2025

Ongoing monitoring program results

2019 targeted monitoring program results

Results for all other water filtration plants

Samples taken 5 & 6 May 2025

Samples taken 7 & 8 April 2025

Samples taken 17 March 2025

Samples taken 10 February 2025

Samples taken 6 January 2025

Samples taken 12 December 2024

Samples taken 2 December 2024

Samples taken 19 November 2024

Samples taken 4 November 2024

Samples taken 22 October 2024

Samples taken 15 & 16 October 2024

Samples taken 25 June 2024

Additional PFAS results for all plants

Monthly data for additional 42 PFAS

Current data

Previous data