PFAS chemicals or per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances are synthetic chemicals used and found in many everyday products. They have been favoured due to their effectiveness in resisting heat, stains, grease and water. These substances are highly mobile in water and often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they break down extremely slowly in the environment.
In 2025, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) released updated Australian Drinking Water guidelines which outline new, lower recommended values of PFAS in drinking water.
Brewarrina Shire Council is committed to transparency, ensuring the community has access to up-to-date information and adhering to recommended monitoring and testing of water supplies.
Recent testing in Brewarrina, Weilmoringle and Goodooga has confirmed drinking water sources are well under the recommended guidelines set by the NHMRC.
Testing of Brewarrina, Weilmoringle and Goodooga was conducted between November 2024 and January 2025. All sources yielded the same results.
All of Brewarrina’s drinking water sources are well under the recommended guidelines for PFAS.
Chemical | Old ADWG Guidelines | Current ADWG Guidelines | Result |
PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid) | 0.56 ug/L | 0.2 ug/L | <0.0001 ug/L |
PFBS (Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid) | No current guidelines | 1 ug/L | <0.0005 ug/L |
PFHxS (Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid) | Sum of both PFOS and PFHxS 0.07 ug/L | 0.03 ug/L | <0.0001 ug/L |
PFOS (Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid) | Sum of both PFOS and PFHxS 0.07 ug/L | 0.008 ug/L | <0.0001 ug/L |
For further information regarding PFAS testing in the Brewarrina Shire, please contact:
Skye Phlps
Regulatory Officer
Phone: 02 6830 5100
Email: skyep@brewarrina.nsw.gov.au
Elected to Council – 2024
Elected to Council – 2024
Elected to Council – 2024
Committees – Roads and Maritime Services Regional Consultative Committee & Western Regional Weeds Committee
Elected to Council – 2021
Elected to Council – 2021
Committee – Tourism & Cultural Committee
Elected to Council – 2021
Committees – Murray Darling Association, Big Sky Library, Brewarrina General Cemetery Committee, Water Users & Tourism & Culture Committee.
Elected to Council – 2021
Committees – Aged Care, Brewarrina General Cemetery Committee & Heritage Committee.
Elected to Council – 2008
Email- markbrown2839@gmail.com
Committees- Aged Care Committee, Big Sky Library & Traffic Committee.
Elected to Council – 2008
Committees – Brewarrina General Cemetery, Tourism & Cultural Committee.
Elected to Council 2017
