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A UNSW analysis of Sydney water has found at least 31 PFAS chemicals, including 21 not previously recorded in Australian tap water, and one detected in tap water globally for the first time.
Researchers from UNSW Sydney have identified 21 new PFAS chemicals in Sydney’s tap water, bringing the known total to 31 types.
One compound, 6:2 diPAP, has previously been found in bottled water and other consumer environments but not in tap water. The other (3:3 FTCA) has, until now, never been found in Australian tap water, and has only once before been reported in a drinking water supply worldwide.
The researchers analysed 32 tap water and 10 bottled water samples taken from the Sydney water catchment areas in early 2024 including 10 sites in the Ryde catchment, 13 in Potts Hill, four in Prospect and five in North Richmond. They found PFOS – a legacy firefighting foam chemical and known carcinogen – in some North Richmond samples with a reading of 6 parts per trillion (ppt), which is 2 ppt below Australia’s guidelines of 8 ppt, but higher than the US EPA’s advisory limit of 4 ppt.
Other significant findings were the first-ever detection in Australian drinking water of 3:3 FTCA, a short-chain breakdown product from firefighting foams. There is currently no established toxicity data or regulatory limit for this specific compound in drinking water, although its presence raises concern due to its chemical similarity to other PFAS known to pose health risks.
The most abundant compound detected on average – and present in every tap water sample – was PFBA, a short-chain PFAS. It’s a common breakdown product of other PFAS and is now attracting scientific attention because it's increasingly used as a replacement for regulated long-chain PFAS, yet remains highly mobile in water and environmentally persistent. While PFBA builds up in the body less than longer-chain PFAS, the researchers noted that some early studies suggest potential effects on liver, thyroid, and developmental health.
The researchers say this fragmented approach to PFAS regulation presents a growing challenge, especially as more of these compounds are now detectable at trace levels in the environment. Many PFAS differ only slightly in structure, yet each variant must undergo its own assessment for toxicity, environmental persistence, and potential health impacts before it can be considered for regulation. Europe has already moved towards regulating PFAS as a class rather than individually, which could help reduce the regulatory burden and provide a more proactive approach to the issue.
The researchers recommend that monitoring be broadened to include more PFAS compounds, which would help generate more comprehensive data tracking over time.
