Routine testing confirms no PFAS in metro reservoirs

Testing within SA Water’s key metropolitan drinking water sources continues to show no detection of PFAS, with the human-made class of chemicals now part of the utility’s routine water quality management program for 6 reservoirs.

PFAS – or per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances – have been widely used in a range of industrial and consumer products since the 1950s, such as non-stick cookware, stain protection for fabrics, furniture and carpet, in food packaging, water-repellent clothing, cosmetics, sunscreen and predominantly in some types of fire-fighting foams.

SA Water mostly recently sampled and tested for PFAS in Barossa, Happy Valley, Hope Valley, Little Para, Millbrook and Myponga reservoirs in early 2026, with previous testing undertaken in September 2024 – resulting in no detectable levels on both occasions.

SA Water’s Senior Manager of Water Expertise Dr Lionel Ho said in consultation with SA Health, this work will now occur approximately every 12 months at the 6 reservoirs.

“Results to date, along with our assessment of the state’s water sources indicating a low risk of any future PFAS contamination, can provide our customers with confidence in the safety of their tap water,” Lionel said.

“As part of the sampling and testing work at the reservoirs, our specialist sampling team follow strict protocols to collect water from the inlet where water enters our treatment plants at each of the reservoirs.

“The samples are then safely transported to an independent laboratory for NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities)-accredited testing and analysis.

“Collectively, these major reservoirs provide drinking water through pipeline distribution systems which can supply more than 1.3 million people, and the continued safety of this water is what drives our proactive testing for PFAS and any other potential contaminants.”

The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (2011) specify limits for four types of PFAS – PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), PFHxS (perfluorohexane sulfonate), PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFBS (perfluorobutane sulfonic acid).

These health-based guidelines were reviewed in 2025 by the National Health and Medical Research Council, resulting in changes for the 4 PFAS types.

For PFOS the revised limit is less than 0.008 micrograms per litre, for PFHxS it’s less than 0.03 micrograms per litre, for PFOA the new limit is less than 0.2 micrograms per litre, and for PFBS it’s less than 1.0 micrograms per litre.

SA Health Principal Water Quality Adviser Dr David Cunliffe said it supports SA Water’s ongoing proactive approach to PFAS sampling and testing, with the intention of this program of work to also reflect community expectations and interest in this emerging contaminant.

“South Australians want to know whether their water is safe to drink and what is being done to make sure of this is,” David said.

“PFAS testing in source water and being transparent with the results is one of the ways we as health regulator and SA Water as water supplier can demonstrate this.”

In addition to the 6 major metropolitan reservoirs, to date, SA Water has sampled for PFAS within 3 targeted locations in the River Murray, Mount Gambier’s Blue Lake and 2 nearby groundwater bores, and the Uley South Basin on Eyre Peninsula along with 2 smaller bores and a central water storage tank in Port Lincoln.

Working with SA Health, SA Water is assessing further suitable sampling locations around regional parts of the state, with this work planned to be undertaken in coming months and results to again be made available to the community.

For more information on SA Water’s PFAS sampling and testing work, visit the PFAs and drinking water web page