Guidelines for water testing
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has recently released updated draft guideline values for public consultation which are proposed to replace existing Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG).
The NHMRC sets guideline levels 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.
PFAS are a class of chemicals that have been developed for firefighting, stain and water resistance and other uses. They can pose a risk to health with prolonged exposure. The guideline values for these materials are set to be protective over a lifetime of exposure.
Forbes Shire Council in conjunction with NSW Health conducted PFAS concentration tests in treated drinking water produced at Councils Water Filtration Plant last year. Samples were analysed by an external, independent, National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accredited laboratory.
The tests conducted in September 2024 found Forbes’s drinking water sample water to be well below current NHMRC guideline values and also well below the new draft guideline values which are even lower than the current ADWG values. The testing was recommended by the NSW Government for all local water utilities in NSW to assess the risk of PFAS statewide and to undertake an initial screening test from each drinking water supply.
Mayor Phyllis Miller confirmed Forbes Shire Council was 100% compliant in the rigorous testing undertaken.
"It is pleasing the count was well below the allowable tolerance in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, however we recognise it is still a concern for residents, ,” Mayor Miller said.
She added, the NSW Government management of PFAS is informed by the best science and evidence and continues to operate with an abundance of caution when it comes to the presence of PFAS in drinking water.