PFAS
On Wednesday, 25 June 2025 the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) released updated guidelines which outline new, lower recommended values of PFAS in drinking water.
Council regularly undertakes testing in line with the current Australian Drinking Water Guidelines to ensure the water supplied to residents is safe to consume. This additional testing was implemented to test specifically for PFAS.
All drinking water sites across the Narrabri Shire comply with the updated Australian Drinking Water Guidelines which state the limit for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), as per the below table:
| PFAS |
Updated Guideline |
| PFOA |
200 ng/L |
| PFOS |
8 ng/L |
| PFHxS |
30 ng/L |
| PFBS |
1000 ng/L |
Find out more about PFAS and drinking water here.
The Results
Bellata, Boggabri, Baan Baa, Wee Waa, Pilliga and Gwabegar all returned negative results.
Narrabri
The Narrabri town water supply relies on three bores; Killarney Bore, Tibberena Bore and Elizabeth Bore.
Currently, water sourced from Tibberena Bore and Elizabeth Bore is pumped to the Namoi Street Reservoir, which supplies the Narrabri township with drinking water.
Testing results, as shown below, have identified PFAS levels either meeting or below the updated Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
Namoi Street Reservoir testing results
December Results
| PFHxS |
6 ng/L |
| PFOS |
8 ng/L |
| PFOA & PFBS |
Not detected |
A full set of testing results for Narrabri from December can be found here.(PDF, 192KB)
January Results
| PFHxS |
7 ng/L |
| PFOS |
8 ng/L |
| PFOA & PFBS |
Not detected |
A full set of testing results for Narrabri from January can be found here.(PDF, 1MB)
February Results
| PFHxS |
5 ng/L |
| PFOS |
6 ng/L |
| PFOA & PFBS |
Not detected |
A full set of testing results for Narrabri from February can be found here.(PDF, 1MB)
March Results
| PFHxS |
5 ng/L |
| PFOS |
8 ng/L |
| PFOA & PFBS |
Not detected |
A full set of testing results for Narrabri from March can be found here.(PDF, 1MB)
April Results
| PFHxS |
5 ng/L |
| PFOS |
6 ng/L |
| PFOA & PFBS |
Not detected |
A full set of testing results for Narrabri from April can be found here.(PDF, 1MB)
May Results
| PFHxS |
6 ng/L |
| PFOS |
7 ng/L |
| PFOA & PFBS |
Not detected |
A full set of testing results for Narrabri from May can be found here.(PDF, 1MB)
June Results
| PFHxS |
5 ng/L |
| PFOS |
6 ng/L |
| PFOA & PFBS |
Not detected |
A full set of testing results for Narrabri from June can be found here.(PDF, 1MB)
24 June Results
| PFHxS |
4 ng/L |
| PFOS |
6 ng/L |
| PFOA & PFBS |
Not detected |
A full set of testing results for Narrabri from 24 June can be found here.(PDF, 1MB)
July Results
| PFHxS |
4 ng/L |
| PFOS |
6 ng/L |
| PFOA & PFBS |
Not detected |
These latest results follow mitigation of the water supply after initial July testing showed the Namoi Reservoir slightly above the current guidelines, with a PFOS level of 9 ng/L (only just above the new Australian Drinking Water Guidelines of 8 ng/L). The PFxS level of 6 ng/L remained well below the updated guidelines of 30 ng/L.
In line with recommendations from NSW Health, Council conducted an investigation into this slight elevation of results, switching off the Tibberena bore.
As per advice from NSW Health, given the very conservative nature of the health-based guideline values, deviations over a short period do not necessarily mean that the water is unsuitable for consumption. Further, as the guideline values are intended to minimise risk over a lifetime, any short-term exposure to PFAS concentrations above the guideline values are unlikely to change this risk.
What next?
Council will continue to undertake regular testing across the Shire to monitor PFAS levels in our water supplies.
FAQS
What are PFAS?
PFAS chemicals - or per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances - are synthetic chemicals found in many everyday products. They have been widely used in many industrial and consumer applications as they are effective at resisting heat, stains, grease and water.
Where do PFAS come from?
PFAS was developed in the 1950s to make products that resist heat, stains, grease, and water. They are often found in furniture and carpets treated for stain resistance, foams used for firefighting, packaged food containers, make up, personal care products, and cleaning products.
What water supplies were tested in the Narrabri Shire?
Council has undertaken sampling at all reservoir sites across the local government area including:
- Pilliga
- Bellata
- Gwabega
- Boggabri
- Baan Baa
- Wee Waa
- Narrabri
Who sets the standards for safe drinking water in NSW?
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has developed the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
The NHMRC is Australia's leading expert on public health and medical research. It bases its decisions on the latest scientific evidence, ensuring that guidelines are up to date and safe. It is a trusted independent body, with no commercial interest.
NSW follows these national guidelines, which are underpinned by available scientific evidence. They are used by state and territory health departments, drinking water regulators, local health authorities, and water utilities.
Narrabri Shire Council has a drinking water management plan that sets out our daily operations and critical control points on how we meet Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
Will exposure to PFAS make me sick?
Most Australians will have some PFAS present in their bodies due to the common use of PFAS in products. People can be exposed to PFAS through food, water, air and skin contact.
There is currently limited evidence of human disease or other risks to health from low level PFAS exposure. For information about exposure to PFAS and the possible health effects, see the Australian Government PFAS fact sheet.
OTHER HELPFUL LINKS