Greater Sydney

Raw water PFAS testing results

Sydney Water and NSW Health have advised Sydney's drinking water is compliant with the existing Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and is safe to drink.
Learn more at nsw.gov.au/pfas

Related pages:  PFAS |  Blue Mountains PFAS investigation and data  | Fish River scheme PFAS results


WaterNSW is carrying out monthly testing of Greater Sydney storage dams.

Following initial testing, ongoing monthly sampling focuses on collection at the point that raw, source water is supplied to Sydney Water’s water filtration plants to be treated for drinking.

Blue Mountains – notably Medlow Dam – remains the priority for the WaterNSW investigation into the presence of PFAS in WaterNSW Greater Sydney dams.

WaterNSW will keep the community informed as the investigation progresses and will work closely with NSW Health and Sydney Water to ensure drinking water remains safe.

Results

These results reflect the untreated, raw source water in WaterNSW’s dams. This water is not supplied directly for use as drinking water, but is supplied to Sydney Water for treatment.

For drinking water results, please visit Sydney Water.

View testing results for Blue Mountains dams.

October 2024 sampling

Location Sample Date PFOA
(µg/L)
PFHxS
(µg/L)
PFOS
(µg/L)
PFHxS + PFOS
(µg/L)
Source water inlet to Illawarra water filtration plant,
Kembla Grange
30/10/2024 <0.0005 <0.0005<0.0003 <0.0003
Source water inlet to Macarthur water filtration plant,
Appin
29/10/2024<0.0005<0.0005<0.0003<0.0003
Source water inlet to Nepean water filtration plant,
Bargo
29/10/2024<0.0005<0.0005<0.0003<0.0003
Source water inlet to Orchard Hills water filtration plant,
Orchard Hills
14/10/2024<0.0005<0.00050.00090.0009
Source water inlet to Prospect water filtration plant,
Wetherill Park
14/10/2024<0.0005<0.00050.00080.0008
Source water inlet to Warragamba water filtration plant,
Warragamba
14/10/2024<0.00050.00070.00090.0016
Source water inlet to Woronora water filtration plant,
Heathcote
29/10/2024<0.0005<0.0005<0.0003<0.0003
Source water inlet to Wingecarribee water filtration plant,
Glenquarry
1/10/2024<0.0005<0.0005<0.0003<0.0003
Source water inlet to Kangaroo Valley water filtration plant,
Kangaroo Valley
1/10/2024<0.0005<0.0005<0.0003<0.0003

September 2024 sampling

Source water testing locationDateDepth/locationPerfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)Sum of PFHxS and PFOS
   ADWG 0.56µg/L*ADWG 0.07µg/L*

Cataract Dam

11/09/24 16 m below surface <0.0005 0.0006

Cordeaux Dam, Cataract

11/09/24 16 m below surface <0.0005 <0.0003

Nepean Dam, Bargo

11/09/24 20-21 m below surface <0.0005 <0.0003

Source water inlet to Cascade water filtration plant

10/09/24 Inlet tap <0.0005 0.0213

Source water inlet to Illawarra water filtration plant, Kembla Grange

11/09/24 Inlet tap <0.0005 0.0003

Source water inlet to Macarthur water filtration plant, Appin

11/09/24

0 m below surface

<0.0005 0.0003

Source water inlet to Macarthur water filtration plant, Appin

11/09/24 0 m below surface <0.0005 <0.0003

Source water inlet to Nepean water filtration plant, Bargo

11/09/24 Inlet tap <0.0005 <0.0003

Source water inlet to Orchard Hills water filtration plant, Orchard Hills

9/09/24 Inlet tap <0.0005 0.0013

Source water inlet to Prospect water filtration plant, Wetherill Park

9/09/24 Inlet tap <0.0005 0.0015

Source water inlet to Prospect water filtration plant, Wetherill Park

9/09/24 2 m below surface <0.0005 0.0004

Source water inlet to Warragamba water filtration plant

9/09/24 Inlet tap <0.0005 0.0013

Source water inlet to Woronora water filtration plant, Heathcote

11/09/24 Inlet tap <0.0005 0.0005

Upper Avon Valve Chamber at Avon Dam, Avon

11/09/24 9 m below surface <0.0005 <0.0003

Upper Cascade Dam

10/09/24 1 m below surface <0.0005 0.0204

Upper Cascade Dam

10/09/24 6 m below surface <0.0005 0.0196

Warragamba Dam

10/09/24 45 m below surface <0.0005 0.0007

Woronora Dam

11/09/24 12 m below surface <0.0005 0.0005

*Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) are listed for reference, but do not apply to source water.

Frequently asked questions

Is Sydney’s water safe to drink?

Sydney Water and NSW Health have advised Sydney’s drinking water is compliant with the existing Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) and is safe to drink. For NSW Government information on PFAS visit nsw.gov.au/pfas.

For most people, drinking water is sourced from well-protected, often pristine catchments, and water goes through multiple levels of testing to ensure it is safe and meets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

WaterNSW supplies untreated water, sometimes described as 'raw water' or 'source water', to Sydney Water and councils around NSW who then treat and supply the water to your tap. The Fish River Water Supply System is an exception. This process of testing and treating the ‘source water’ we supply is rigorous, ensuring that drinking water that comes out of your tap is safe and meets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

The thorough scientific process for setting the guidelines helps maintain high quality drinking water for all Australians. Australia has some of the highest quality drinking water compared to anywhere else in the world.

How is the Sydney drinking water catchment monitored?

Sydney’s drinking water catchment is 16,000 square kilometres – about half the size of Belgium.

Water quality monitoring across the catchment follows a targeted, risk-based approach to help ensure the treated water supplied for consumption meets the existing Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. Consistent with the government regulatory frameworks, the approach is based on expert advice from NSW Health and other authorities such as the Environment Protection Authority.

Does WaterNSW test for PFAS?

WaterNSW monitors many water quality parameters over a very large area across the Greater Sydney catchment and dams. This includes extensive water testing and real time monitoring 24/7. Each month thousands of data points are collected and evaluated continually for the management of source water quality.

When testing for PFAS, WaterNSW takes a targeted, risk-based approach, based on based on expert advice from NSW Health and other authorities such as the Environment Protection Authority.

How often will you be carrying out PFAS testing in WaterNSW dams?

WaterNSW is carrying out fortnightly testing of the Blue Mountains System, and monthly testing of Greater Sydney storage dams.  Results are published monthly. Water goes through multiple levels of testing and treatment to ensure it is safe and meets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines before it comes out of your taps.

How is WaterNSW communicating the results of its testing?

The results of the testing are available here on our website. Dedicated pages have been created for Blue Mountains System and Greater Sydney storage dam results. Result data is published monthly.

Why are different depths tested and reported?

We test at different depths and consistently measure and report at the offtake depth, to be representative of the raw water being supplied via our pipelines to the various water filtration plants.  We are working to consistently measure and report the most accurate and useful data with Sydney Water and NSW Health and to keep the community informed.

How Is WaterNSW responding to the proposed new drinking water guidelines?

WaterNSW will work with the NSW Government on implementation of the revised guideline levels as required.

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