What if the water you drink every day carries significant health risks? Unknowingly, it might be increasing health risks like decreased fertility, increased blood pressure in pregnant women, developmental issues in children, and more. In this guide, we will discuss the latest technologies to identify PFAS in your drinking water.
Did you know that three out of 11 types of per-and-polyfluoroalkyl substances have been detected in more than 85% of the Australian population? The name forever chemical comes from the fact that these chemicals neither break nor biodegrade with time, remaining in the human body forever.
There are various ways PFAs can enter your system, including through cosmetics, clothing, sunscreen, lubricants, and chemicals used in industries, as well as firefighting foams. Besides, the water you drink often contains different types of PFAS.
Thus, it has become important to rely on newly developed technologies to detect and monitor PFAS in water. Besides, stricter guidelines are also necessary for continuous monitoring of PFAS.
The Evolving PFAS Regulatory Landscape
Table Contents
- The Evolving PFAS Regulatory Landscape
- Why Traditional PFAS Testing Is No Longer Enough
- High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS)
- Total Organic Fluorine (TOF) & EOF Techniques
- On-Site & Rapid PFAS Detection Technologies
- Integrating Detection with Long-Term PFAS Management
- Opt for Continuous Monitoring and Testing for PFAS Management
The government of Australia has developed the PFAS National Environmental Management Plan as a guide for managing PFAS contamination in the environment. The guide has been developed in collaboration with the Commonwealth, State, Territory, and New Zealand Governments to be used as nationally-consistent guidance.
The latest guidelines of PFAS NEMP 3.0 were developed in 2025 as an adaptive document to include the latest scientific evidence. Based on the new guidelines, here is the safe level of PFAS in drinking water:
| Chemicals | Updated Level |
| PFOS | 8 ng/L, which is equal to less than 0.008 micrograms/litre |
| PFHxS | 30 ng/L, which is equal to less than 0.03 micrograms/litre |
| PFOA | 200 ng/L, which is less than 0.2 micrograms/litre |
| PFBS | 1000 ng/L, which is less than 1.0 micrograms/litre |
Table 1: Updated Safety Level of PFAS Chemicals in Drinking Water in Australia
The guideline also highlights the importance of continuous water testing and monitoring of drinking water sources in Australia, and if the level of PFAS exceeds the normal level, immediate actions will follow.
Why Traditional PFAS Testing Is No Longer Enough
The traditional ways of PFAS monitoring and testing are not enough in modern days to identify possible risks. The traditional non-targeted analyses are only able to identify and quantify the known number of PFAS. It leaves a gap in the testing process where unknown PFAS cannot be detected.
Besides, the high-cost traditional water testing and monitoring processes are not enough to detect the increasing threat of PFAS in daily lives. For example, the Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) method is one of the traditional ways of PFAS testing, and it can significantly reduce the monitoring efficiency.
As the risk of PFAS increases every day, the government needs a new approach to detect PFAS risks. Let’s look at the modern PFAS testing technologies to correctly identify PFAS risks.
High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS)
It is one of the latest testing technologies that is used for PFAS detection. It is an analytical technique that works by determining the exact molecular masses of compounds in a given sample. In this process, the molecules are ionized and separated based on their precise mass-to-charge ratio.
The test is so accurate that it can differentiate compounds of different masses, allowing to identify known and unknown PFAS molecules even at the trace level. The HRMS testing method can be used in land monitoring by testing groundwater, sediment, and the associated water source.
As HRMS helps improve the PFAS identification process, the TOF and EOF technique has also improved the PFAS testing and monitoring process, as discussed below.
Total Organic Fluorine (TOF) & EOF Techniques
TOF or Total Organic Fluorine is an analytical parameter that helps in measuring the total amount of organically bound fluorine in a water sample.
Similarly, EOF or Extractable Organic Fluorine is another technique that isolates the portions of organic fluorine in a compound. With the help of EOF, both known and unknown fluorinated compounds can be identified in a compound. It can be used to identify known and unknown PFAS in soil and land condition assessment.
On-Site & Rapid PFAS Detection Technologies
Compared to the traditional testing methods, the modern on-site water testing has revolutionised the way PFAS are tested and detected in water samples. Modern technologies include smartphone-based colorimetric apps and TOF for quick identification of PFAS traces.
With the quick identification of possible contamination, prompt action can be taken to protect people from possible health risks.
Integrating Detection with Long-Term PFAS Management
According to PFAS NEMP 3.0, Australia has adopted a continuous water monitoring framework to detect any unwanted increase in any unwanted PFAS in water. Continuous water and land condition assessment can help detect PFAS even at a low level, and the government can take immediate treatment measures for long term PFAS management.
Opt for Continuous Monitoring and Testing for PFAS Management
The risk of PFAS contamination is increasing day by day. Even though the government has a defined guideline for its testing and management, be alert at the individual level. Get in touch with a reliable water and land testing agency to identify PFAS risks in drinking water and in land.