❓ Hon Jess Beckerling asks about acceptable PFAS levels in drinking water and environmental standards, referencing the PFAS NEMP 3.0. The Minister provides drinking water standards but cannot answer the second part due to a referencing error in the question.
AnsweredQoN 1103Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the PFAS National Environmental Management Plan 3.0, and I ask: (a) what are the current levels of PFAS and related compounds that are considered acceptable for: (i) drinking water; and (ii) environmental standards; and (b) can the Minister please provide the scientific studies which the values in (2)(a) and (2)(b) are based on?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 February 2026
Responded by
Minister for the Environment
Response time
5 days
(a)
(i) The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) published revised drinking water guideline values for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) in June 2025:
Based on human health considerations, the concentration of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in drinking water should not exceed 8 ng/L (0.008 μg/L).
Based on human health considerations, the concentration of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in drinking water should not exceed 200 ng/L (0.2 μg/L).
Based on human health considerations, the concentration of perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) in drinking water should not exceed 30 ng/L (0.03 μg/L).
Based on human health considerations, the concentration of perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) in drinking water should not exceed 1000 ng/L (1 µg/L).
These are the current assessment levels in Australia for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) compounds in drinking water. I am advised that the Heads of EPAs Australia and New Zealand (HEPA) is preparing an update to the PFAS National Environmental Management Plan version 3.0 (PFAS NEMP) to reflect the revised values.
(ii) Environmental assessment levels for PFAS are those published in the PFAS NEMP version 3.0, and outlined primarily in Tables 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, while other guideline information is provided in other sections of the document. I table a copy of the PFAS NEMP version 3.0.
(b) I am unable to provide a response to this question. The reference to values in (2)(a) and (2)(b) does not correspond to any part of the question. The reference is nonsensical and it is therefore not possible to determine what information is being sought.
(i) The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) published revised drinking water guideline values for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) in June 2025:
Based on human health considerations, the concentration of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in drinking water should not exceed 8 ng/L (0.008 μg/L).
Based on human health considerations, the concentration of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in drinking water should not exceed 200 ng/L (0.2 μg/L).
Based on human health considerations, the concentration of perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) in drinking water should not exceed 30 ng/L (0.03 μg/L).
Based on human health considerations, the concentration of perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) in drinking water should not exceed 1000 ng/L (1 µg/L).
These are the current assessment levels in Australia for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) compounds in drinking water. I am advised that the Heads of EPAs Australia and New Zealand (HEPA) is preparing an update to the PFAS National Environmental Management Plan version 3.0 (PFAS NEMP) to reflect the revised values.
(ii) Environmental assessment levels for PFAS are those published in the PFAS NEMP version 3.0, and outlined primarily in Tables 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, while other guideline information is provided in other sections of the document. I table a copy of the PFAS NEMP version 3.0.
(b) I am unable to provide a response to this question. The reference to values in (2)(a) and (2)(b) does not correspond to any part of the question. The reference is nonsensical and it is therefore not possible to determine what information is being sought.
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