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PFAS monitoring results

Testing for PFAS in drinking water

We regularly test the drinking water produced at our water filtration plants and Sydney Desalination Plant for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and publish the latest results. Drinking water from the Cascade and North Richmond water filtration plants is tested weekly. All other water filtration plants are tested monthly.

PFAS and the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines
The levels of PFAS in your drinking water are lower than the values specified in the Guidelines, which are PFOS = < 0.008 µg/L, PFHxS = < 0.03 µg/L, PFOA = < 0.2 µg/L and PFBS = < 1.0 µg/L.

Where your water comes from

Results for Cascade Water Filtration Plant

Results for North Richmond Water Filtration Plant

Results for all other water filtration plants

Additional PFAS results for all water filtration plants

Results for Sydney Desalination Plant

Results for Cascade Water Filtration Plant

Cascade Water Filtration Plant	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)	PFBS (µg/L)
Blackheath	0.0013	0.0010	< 0.0001	< 0.0005
Katoomba	0.0009	0.0007	< 0.0001	< 0.0005

Guidelines values: PFOS = < 0.008 µg/L, PFHxS = < 0.03 µg/L, PFOA = < 0.2 µg/L, PFBS = < 1.0 µg/L

Drinking water sampling date	Cascade Water Filtration Plant	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
10 June 2025	Blackheath	0.0014	0.0010	< 0.0001
10 June 2025	Katoomba	0.0012	0.0011	< 0.0001
3 June 2025	Blackheath	0.0014	0.0010	< 0.0001
3 June 2025	Katoomba	0.0012	0.0012	< 0.0001
27 May 2025	Blackheath	0.0013	0.0010	0.0002
27 May 2025	Katoomba	0.0009	0.0009	0.0001
20 May 2025	Blackheath	0.0014	0.0011	< 0.0001
20 May 2025	Katoomba	0.0016	0.0013	< 0.0001
13 May 2025	Blackheath	0.0011	0.0012	< 0.0001
13 May 2025	Katoomba	0.0014	0.0015	< 0.0001
6 May 2025	Blackheath	0.0016	0.0012	< 0.0001
6 May 2025	Katoomba	0.0015	0.0013	< 0.0001
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

Guidelines 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.

Results for North Richmond Water Filtration Plant

Water filtration plant	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)	PFBS (µg/L)
North Richmond	0.0006	0.0010	0.0006	< 0.0005

Guidelines values: PFOS = < 0.008 µg/L, PFHxS = < 0.03 µg/L, PFOA = < 0.2 µg/L, PFBS = < 1.0 µg/L

Drinking water sampling date	Water filtration plant	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
10 June 2025	North Richmond	0.0007	0.0012	0.0006
2 June 2025	North Richmond	0.0008	0.0012	0.0006
26 May 2025	North Richmond	0.0006	0.0009	0.0005
19 May 2025	North Richmond	0.0013	0.0020	0.0010
12 May 2025	North Richmond	0.0011	0.0021	0.0013
5 May 2025	North Richmond	0.0012	0.0024	0.0015
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

Guidelines 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

Water filtration plant	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
Macarthur – Appin	0.0006	0.0003	< 0.0001
Macarthur – Campbelltown	0.0005	0.0002	< 0.0001
Illawarra	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	0.0002
Nepean	< 0.0001	0.0002	< 0.0001
Orchard Hills	0.0011	0.0009	0.0005
Prospect	0.0009	0.0007	< 0.0001
Warragamba	0.0013	0.0008	0.0007
Woronora	0.0004	< 0.0001	< 0.0001

Guidelines 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	0.0005	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

Guidelines 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

Guidelines 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

Guidelines 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

Guidelines 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

Guidelines 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

Guidelines 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

Guidelines 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

Guidelines 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

Guidelines 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

Guidelines 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

Guidelines 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

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

Additional PFAS results for all water filtration plants

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

Monthly data for additional 42 PFAS

May 2025 data for 42 PFAS (21 KB, XLSX)

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)

On 7 and 15 April 2025, we collected additional localised test results for the Blue Mountains water supply network (28 KB, XLSX).

Results for Sydney Desalination Plant

At full capacity, Sydney Desalination Plant in Kurnell can provide up to 15% of Greater Sydney's total drinking water. The plant can supply about 1.5 million people with an average of 250 million litres a day. Quarterly PFAS monitoring of the treated water commenced in January 2024. In 2025, the method was changed to allow more accurate reporting to 4 decimal places.

Sydney Desalination Plant	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
Treated drinking water	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001

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

Drinking water sampling date	PFOS (µg/L)	PFHxS (µg/L)	PFOA (µg/L)
21 January 2025	< 0.0001	< 0.0001	< 0.0001
22 October 2024	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001
23 July 2024	< 0.001	< 0.001	< 0.001
23 April 2024	< 0.002	< 0.002	< 0.001
23 January 2024	< 0.002	< 0.002	< 0.001

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

PFAS monitoring results

Testing for PFAS in drinking water

Results for Cascade Water Filtration Plant

Samples taken 17 June 2025

Ongoing monitoring program results

Results for North Richmond Water Filtration Plant

Samples taken 17 June 2025

Ongoing monitoring program results

2019 targeted monitoring program results

Results for all other water filtration plants

Samples taken 2 & 3 June 2025

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 water filtration plants

Monthly data for additional 42 PFAS

Current data

Previous data

Results for Sydney Desalination Plant

Samples taken 15 April 2025

Ongoing quarterly monitoring results