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Forever Chemicals and Water Recycling: What PFAS Water Contamination Means for WA Businesses

PFAS are reshaping how Australian projects approach water quality, recycled water and environmental compliance. As national guidelines tighten and water recycling expands, understanding what these chemicals mean for your project is no longer optional.

This article explains the practical implications of PFAS for drinking water, groundwater and recycled water and why well designed water monitoring programs are essential.

If you manage or oversee projects involving water supply, reuse or discharge, contact Environmental Site Services to discuss your PFAS and broader water treatment monitoring requirements.

PFAS, “forever chemicals” and why they matter for Australian drinking water

PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of more than 4,000 synthetic chemicals that do not occur naturally in the environment. They are often called “forever chemicals” because their molecular structure is exceptionally strong, making them resistant to breakdown by biological, chemical or physical processes. PFAS accumulates in both the environment and human body over time.

Since the 1950s, PFAS chemicals have been widely used in a diverse range of products. Those include:

Most Australian drinking water supplies currently meet PFAS guidelines, with PFAS detections typically well below health-based values in major schemes. However, PFAS levels are often detected in recycled water and biosolids, which is why they are now a key consideration for water recycling, stormwater reuse and industrial water management.

PFAS in Australian drinking water: guidelines, risk and regulatory context

Drinking water quality in Australia is regulated through the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. It was updated in 2025 to set the following thresholds for PFAS compounds:

Compared to other countries, Australia takes a different approach to PFAS guidance. The US EPA has proposed extremely low limits for some polyfluoroalkyl substances, while WHO guidance sits at different levels again. Australian figures aim to balance health protection with practical implementation across diverse water systems and the general public can access information through published national guidelines and agency reports.

How PFAS enter and persist in water systems

PFAS are highly mobile, resist natural degradation and can travel long distances through groundwater, surface water and recycled water schemes. Their persistence means that even decades after a source is removed, PFAS compounds can remain in the environment.

Common source pathways in Australia include:

Contamination could occur from one-off events like accidents or fires or a build up of material over time.

PFAS move through the water cycle from contaminated soils and hardstand runoff into creeks, wetlands and dams, infiltrating to groundwater and entering drinking water intakes or recycled water plants.

As alluded to above, PFAS do not readily break down in conventional water or wastewater treatment. Standard processes such as coagulation, filtration, UV and disinfection do not reliably remove most compounds and they can appear in treated drinking water, recycled water and biosolids if not specifically managed.

PFAS, water recycling and the Australian push for reuse

Australia is increasingly focused on water recycling and reuse to manage drought, population growth and climate variability. Recycled water schemes in Western Australia, New South Wales and South East Queensland are expanding to meet demand for non-potable and, in some cases, indirect potable reuse.

Recycled water could be treated wastewater, stormwater or industrial water, any which may contain a mix of PFAS compounds if upstream sources are present. Because PFAS resist breakdown, they can persist through treatment processes and accumulate in soils, crops and other receiving environments over time.

The Australian Government’s Guidelines for Water Recycling and the PFAS National Environmental Management Plan provide the framework for managing PFAS risks in non-potable uses such as irrigation, industry and environmental flows. However, formal criteria for many recycled water uses remain under development.

Monitoring PFAS in drinking water, groundwater and recycled water

Robust environmental monitoring is central to understanding PFAS in water systems and making defensible decisions on risk, treatment and reuse.

The main water types typically monitored include:

Our PFAS monitoring programs generally involve laboratory analysis of a defined suite of PFAS compounds, often aligned to those in the ADWG, WA’s regulatory frameworks and site specific conditions. We place great focus on correct sampling methods, appropriate bottle types, field blanks and quality assurance to minimise contamination and ensure defensible data.

How we design PFAS monitoring programs for WA projects

ENVSS PFAS monitoring programs are always tailored to project objectives. That could be a baseline investigation, compliance check, recycled water validation, contamination assessment or long-term trend monitoring.

Key design considerations include:

Our team works with clients’ environmental managers and consultants to align monitoring programs with approvals, licence conditions and risk assessments. Programs are adjusted as guidelines or operational requirements change, ensuring data remains relevant and defensible.

What PFAS monitoring can reveal

PFAS monitoring results help determine whether drinking water or recycled water meets relevant guideline values, whether contamination plumes are stable, expanding or contracting and whether treatment systems are performing as expected.

PFAS data is most useful when considered alongside other water quality parameters, think pH, conductivity, turbidity, nutrients, metals and salinity. That is because these factors influence PFAS transport behaviour and treatment performance.

Furthermore, time-series PFAS data can inform understandings of trends, seasonal influences, responses to source control measures and the effectiveness of remediation strategies. Data can be used to support decisions about infrastructure upgrades, alternate water supplies or changes in operational practice.

Source control, treatment challenges and the limits of current technology

The most effective long-term strategy for managing PFAS in water is source control: reducing the use and discharge of PFAS-containing products so they do not enter catchments, sewers or stormwater systems.

But where legacy contamination already exists, treatment options include:

But all treatment technologies have their limitations. They can be:

Selecting a solution is a balancing act between cost, logistical feasibility and good quality data.

When WA projects should consider PFAS-focused water monitoring

Not every project requires PFAS testing. However, there are clear situations where it should be considered in risk assessments and monitoring plans:

PFAS-focused programs should also be considered where DWER information, water reporting conditions or the PFAS National Environmental Management Plan indicate a potential pathway to receptors.

How Environmental Site Services supports PFAS and water monitoring

Environmental Site Services is a Western Australian consultancy specialising in practical, field-based environmental monitoring. Our team delivers surface water and groundwater quality programs with PFAS capability across mining, infrastructure, industrial and government sectors.

We assist clients by:

Speak with an environmental consultant today

At ENVSS, we work with environmental managers, project managers and consultants to integrate accurate and reliable monitoring data into compliance reporting and environmental management plans.

Our programs are designed to adapt as guidelines, operational requirements and project conditions evolve.

Contact our team to discuss your PFAS and your broader water monitoring requirements.