PFAS testing program

Drinking water

Sunwater operates five small-scale water treatment plants (WTPs) in regional Queensland. These provide drinking water to residents in small communities and visitors to dam recreation areas.

Sunwater is committed to ensuring all drinking water we supply is safe to consume and provided in accordance with the standards set by the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG). The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHRMC) developed the ADWG, which set strict health-based guideline values for a range of water quality parameters (including per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances or PFAS) to ensure the safe supply of drinking water in Australia.

Monitoring and testing

Sunwater completes water quality monitoring at our WTPs in accordance with our Drinking Water Quality Management Plan. We have also instigated PFAS sampling and testing at the five WTPs in the Clare and Mutchilba townships and at the Burdekin Falls, Fairbairn and Glenlyon dams to monitor PFAS concentrations in accordance with the national standards set by the ADWG.

All analyses are conducted at an independent, National Association of Testing Authorities-accredited laboratory with strict quality controls.

Results

PFAS results are included for both raw and treated water samples at each location. Sunwater aims to publish results within three months of completion of testing.

PFAS results comply with the ADWG health guideline values. Please note this value only applies to treated water.

Glenlyon Dam WTP

PFAS results compared to ADWG health guideline value for drinking water.

Sample month	Sample location	PFOS (ng/L)	PFHxS (ng/L)	PFOA (ng/L)	PFBS (ng/L)
*ADWG value: should not exceed*		*8 ng/L*	*30 ng/L*	*200 ng/L*	*1000 ng/L*
November 2025	Raw water	<2	<2	<2	<2
November 2025	Treated water	<2	<2	<2	<2

Fairbairn Dam WTP

PFAS results compared to ADWG health guideline value for drinking water.

Sample month	Sample location	PFOS (ng/L)	PFHxS (ng/L)	PFOA (ng/L)	PFBS (ng/L)
*ADWG value: should not exceed*		*8 ng/L*	*30 ng/L*	*200 ng/L*	*1000 ng/L*
November 2025	Raw water	<2	<2	<2	<2
November 2025	Treated water	<2	<2	<2	<2

Clare WTP

PFAS results compared to ADWG health guideline value for drinking water.

Sample month	Sample location	PFOS (ng/L)	PFHxS (ng/L)	PFOA (ng/L)	PFBS (ng/L)
*ADWG value: should not exceed*		*8 ng/L*	*30 ng/L*	*200 ng/L*	*1000 ng/L*
November 2025	Raw water	<2	<2	<2	<2
November 2025	Treated water	<2	<2	<2	<2

Burdekin Falls Dam WTP

PFAS results compared to ADWG health guideline value for drinking water.

Sample month	Sample location	PFOS (ng/L)	PFHxS (ng/L)	PFOA (ng/L)	PFBS (ng/L)
*ADWG value: should not exceed*		*8 ng/L*	*30 ng/L*	*200 ng/L*	*1000 ng/L*
November 2025	Raw water	<2	<2	<2	<2
November 2025	Treated water	<2	<2	<2	<2

Mutchilba WTP

PFAS results compared to ADWG health guideline value for drinking water.

Sample month	Sample location	PFOS (ng/L)	PFHxS (ng/L)	PFOA (ng/L)	PFBS (ng/L)
*ADWG value: should not exceed*		*8 ng/L*	*30 ng/L*	*200 ng/L*	*1000 ng/L*
November 2025	Raw water	<2	<2	<2	<2
November 2025	Treated water	<2	<2	<2	<2

Next steps

If any future sample approaches a guideline value, Sunwater will investigate the source, consider further management options and share our findings publicly.

Sunwater is committed to rigorous science, open reporting and ensuring safe water is provided through our water treatment plants.

Further information

Water Services Association of Australia – PFAS in the water sector

National Health and Medical Research Council – Australian Drinking Water Guidelines for PFAS

Queensland Government – PFAS in Queensland