In October, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) announced that they would review current PFAS guidelines for a number of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.

The announcement created widespread concern about the safety of drinking water supplies.

Correspondence from Central Highlands Water, however indicates that levels of PFAS chemicals in the Daylesford treated water supply is almost negligible because there are no local sources of contaminants.

The new NHMRC guidelines will take into account recent developments in the United States where PFAS chemicals had their permissible levels substantially reduced in April 2024. Under the proposed guidelines Australia would reduce permissible levels of PFAS chemicals in drinking water substantially.

PFAS are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s because of their useful properties. There are thousands of different PFAS, some of which have been more widely used and studied than others. PFAS are persistent chemicals that do not break down easily in the environment, leading to their accumulation in soil, water, animals, and even humans. Given their enduring presence and potential health risks, governments across Australia advise the public to minimise PFAS exposure while ongoing research continues to investigate their impacts on human health.

In 2016 a parliamentary inquiry confirmed claims that dozens of firefighters who worked and trained at the Fiskville Firefighting Training College near Ballan, suffered cancers linked to toxic firefighting chemicals. Testing at the Fiskville site found concentrations of of PFAS chemicals were up to 12 times higher than those recommended by international safety guidelines. The Victorian government announced a $57 million redress scheme to support firefighters who were exposed to toxic chemicals during their training at the former Fiskville training facility.

Current scientific research suggests that exposure to certain PFAS may lead to adverse health outcomes. However, research is still ongoing to determine how different levels of exposure to different PFAS can lead to a variety of health effects. Research is also underway to better understand the health effects associated with low levels of exposure to PFAS over long periods of time, especially in children.

Possibly the highest PFAS loads in Victorian domestic water supplies is in the Moorabool River catchment. This is thought to be a result of contamination from the Fiskville site.

The Wombat Post made inquiries with Central Highlands Water about testing for PFAS and the safety of local water supplies.

CHW does not undertake routine testing of local raw or treated water supplies because, according to a CHW spokesperson, “the presence of poly-fluoroalkyl-substances (PFAS) in our drinking water is considered low risk due to the absence of contributing sources in our water supply catchments.”

Non-routine testing completed on October 10, 2024, across the Daylesford source and treated water supply system showed no detectable concentrations of PFAS compounds.

A spokesperson for CHW said, “In considering the proposed updated PFAS Guidelines issued by the NHMRC, Central Highlands Water will proactively review our ongoing monitoring programs to ensure they remain fit for purpose.”

For more information, visit Water Services Association of Australia’s (WSAA) website, who have developed a set of fact sheets and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the draft updated ADWG guidelines: https://wsaa.asn.au/Web/News-and-Resources/Resources/Per–and-Poly-Fluoroalkyl-Substances–PFAS–Fact-Sheet.aspx