PFAS Rules Are Changing: Is Your Wastewater Ready?
New PFAS monitoring requirements are about to change the way certain wastewater facilities in NSW monitor and report their discharges.
From 1 October 2026, licensed sewage treatment plants and landfills in NSW must monitor PFAS and report results to the Environment Protection Authority.
The new Chemical Control Order requires relevant facilities to undertake quarterly monitoring using approved sampling and analytical methods.
The EPA says the information will help improve understanding of PFAS concentrations and how these chemicals move through the environment.
Why does PFAS matter?
PFAS refers to a large group of manufactured chemicals that are highly persistent in the environment.
They can enter wastewater systems through household, commercial and industrial sources.
Importantly, detecting PFAS in wastewater does not automatically mean there is a public-health risk. The EPA notes that PFAS is widespread in the environment and that the new monitoring requirements are intended to better understand concentrations and pathways.
Monitoring is the starting point
For businesses managing complex water or wastewater systems, understanding what's actually present in the water is critical.
Water quality testing can help identify contaminants and determine whether existing treatment processes are appropriate.
Different contaminants require different treatment strategies.
There is no single treatment solution that works for every wastewater stream.
What should businesses be asking?
Businesses dealing with industrial wastewater should understand:
- What is entering the wastewater stream?
- What contaminants are present?
- What treatment is currently being provided?
- What quality does the final water need to achieve?
- Could treated water be reused?
Understanding those questions is the first step towards designing an effective treatment strategy.
Integra Water works with Australian businesses to assess water quality, treatment requirements and wastewater-management challenges.
👉 Talk to Integra Water about your water and wastewater treatment requirements.
News source: NSW EPA – New PFAS rules for landfills and sewage treatment plants