Program: What would it take to ensure Australian drinking water is safe from 'forever chemicals'?

Earlier this year, the American Environmental Protection Agency announced there is no safe level of what are known as 'forever chemicals' in drinking water and they're setting new enforceable limits across the US.

Given PFOS and PFOA have been found in tap water around Australia, Australian experts on chemical regulation say we should be following the US example as soon as possible. 

What do we know about the presence of these 'forever chemicals' in our national water supply and should regulatory standards change to protect our health?

Guests:

Dr Nick Chartres, senior research fellow from University of Sydney's faculty of medicine and health 

Dr Mariann Lloyd-Smith, Senior Policy Advisor for IPEN (international pollution elimination network) who has worked on PFAS chemicals' policy at a national and international level for 25 years and served on the UN Expert Group on Persistent Organic Pollutants 

Dale Emerson, Chairperson, Mullumbimby Residents Association

Full Response from the Water Services Association of Australia:

In Australia, our tap water is safe to drink. We rely on health experts to advise what testing needs to be done to ensure that drinking water is safe. The Government and water utilities around the country publish the results of hundreds of tests against the rigorous Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. 

These guidelines are currently under review for PFAS by the National Health and Medical Research Centre. This independent review will consider recent guidance and reviews from international and national jurisdictions and determine whether they are suitable for Australia. 

As an industry we are taking this issue seriously by investing in research and proactively working with relevant departments, as well as with our counterparts in the US.

Background:

-We understand that exposure to these chemicals is everywhere due to them being present in a range of everyday products, including – in our kitchen pans, in make up products, even in bottled water.

-While the USA is having to manage large scale, wide-spread historical contamination, in Australia we are fortunate the majority of our water sources are at lower risk of contamination. Our dams are further away from the city and less impacted by industry. In the limited and few exceptions where there are known levels of risk from contamination the relevant water utility and government agencies have acted immediately to isolate, close or change the source of water for that area, including dedicated monitoring for that area.

-The water sector is committed to ensuring the provision of safe and secure drinking water to customers and communities. Water utilities in Australia are regulated, including for health and the environment. The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines are applied by state and territory health departments, drinking water regulators, local health authorities and water utilities to each water supply based on its specific risks.

-Water utilities continue to participate in research and explore treatment options for managing PFAS. However, removing the use of PFAS in products to control contamination and risk at source is generally lower cost, less energy intensive and more effective than implementing treatment technology to remove PFAS from drinking water. 

-In terms of filters in the home, drinking water is already filtered at a water treatment plant so using a home filter is not necessary for health reasons, although some people prefer to use them for enhancing taste. Current research shows that effectiveness of home filters in removing PFAS is highly variable and may be quite costly. 

-We advocate for the banning of PFAS chemicals and we support the Australian Government ban next year on the manufacture, import and use of the three main PFAS compounds and products that contain them. 

-We also have a fact sheet on our website here: https://www.wsaa.asn.au/publication/and-poly-fluoroalkyl-substances-pfas-fact-sheet

Full Response from the Australian Government's Department of Health and Aged Care:

-The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has developed health-based guideline values for three PFAS (PFOS + PFHxS and PFOA) in Australian drinking water. These three types of PFAS chemicals are the most prevalent PFAS found in the Australian population. 

-These guideline values are based on a Tolerable Daily Intake, published by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), which refers to the daily amount of a chemical that has been assessed as safe for humans on a long-term basis. Health-based guideline values indicate the amount of a chemical in food or drinking water that a person can consume on a regular basis over a lifetime without any significant risk to health.

-NHMRC also has issued guideline values for PFAS in recreational water (e.g. lakes and rivers) in the Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water. 

-NHMRC is currently reviewing its 2018 health-based guideline values for PFAS in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines with advice from the NHMRC Water Quality Advisory Committee.

-This review, funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care, includes a review of other international guidelines, such as the advice from the US EPA, to determine whether the current NHMRC advice remains appropriate.  

-The review includes consideration of the current health-based guideline values for PFOS, PFHxS and PFOA.

-The process for developing these NHMRC guidelines has a number of stages, which are important in  ensuring high quality, trusted guidelines. There are multiple checks including drafting by an expert committee, consultation with jurisdictional water experts and public consultation.

-In accordance with the NHMRC Act 1992, Council must consider the draft guidance and recommended it to the CEO for release. The Act specifies a minimum of 30 days for public consultation.

-Public consultation is expected to commence in October 2024 with NHMRC’s final PFAS guidance is currently expected to be released in April 2025.