NHMRC is an independent statutory agency and Australia’s leading experts on health and medical research and providing the Australian community with health advice based on the best available scientific evidence.
The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines are part of the National Water Quality Management Strategy and provide an authoritative reference to the Australian community, water regulators in the states and territories, and water suppliers on what defines safe, good quality drinking water, how it can be achieved, and how it can be assured.
NHMRC has released updated guideline values which indicate the amount of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water that a person can consume on a daily basis over a lifetime without any appreciable risk to health (“health-based guideline values”). The updated values have been released for public consultation and are an important step in ensuring the continued safety of Australia’s drinking water supplies.
PFAS are human-made chemicals that make products resistant to heat, stains, grease, and water. Because of their widespread use, almost everyone will have some exposure to PFAS in their lifetime.
NHMRC’s draft guidance includes revised health-based guideline values for:
- perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS)
- perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
- perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS)
- perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS).
The draft guidance also includes additional information on hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid and its ammonium salt (GenX chemicals).
The health-based guideline values are conservative, protective of human health, and are based on comprehensive evaluations of the latest evidence.
Public consultation on the draft guidance is a critical component of the guideline development process. It allows guideline users, experts, governments and the public to provide information and evidence that will assist NHMRC in finalising the guideline values.
All submissions will be considered by the Water Quality Advisory Committee in consultation with NHMRC. Therefore, it must not be assumed that these PFAS guideline values will be the final ones for the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, after public consultation is taken into account.
The final guidance material will be published as part of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines in April 2025. Until then, the current guidelines remain in effect.
This does not mean there is an immediate risk to your health if you continue to drink tap water. The information available shows that most water supplies are already below the lower, proposed guideline values, and these values are based on minimising risk over a lifetime’s worth of exposure. NHMRC uses conservative assumptions in setting these values, ensuring that even very small potential risks are addressed. Drinking water is only one of many sources of possible PFAS exposure. Thus, higher values in drinking water for short periods is unlikely to increase health risks.
Submissions on the draft guidance will close Friday 22 November 2024.
For further information, visit the public consultation website.
The website includes an NHMRC statement, message from the CEO, and questions and answers.
Quotes attributable to NHMRC CEO, Professor Steve Wesselingh:
- 'In Australia’s system for ensuring water is safe to drink, NHMRC is responsible for producing the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. States and territories use these Guidelines in regulating water utilities and suppliers. This applies a robust approach to protecting public health across Australia.
- 'This public consultation is consistent with the NHMRC’s commitment to ensure that the latest evidence and international advice is applied to our national guidelines, as well as NHMRC’s robust guideline development process and supported by best practice methods.
- 'NHMRC suggests that water suppliers regularly share information with the community on the current risks from PFAS in their catchment and the findings from background testing. This transparency will assist in providing consumers with reassurance about the water coming out of their taps.'
