Why it matters
PFAS are chemicals widely used in everyday and industrial products. They are often detected in landfill leachate and sewage treatment plant discharges. Monitoring PFAS will help the EPA understand how much enters the environment and whether further action is needed to protect human health and ecosystems.
The proposed Chemical Control Order will support consistent, science-based monitoring across NSW and align with national frameworks. It aims to ensure reliable data collection by setting clear sampling requirements for landfill leachate, groundwater, surface water, and treated effluent.
Who and what we’re consulting on
We are consulting with sewage treatment plant and landfill operators, industry, government and the broader community.
Your feedback will help inform the final CCO to ensure the approach is practical, consistent, and meets stakeholder needs. It will also help us understand potential operational impacts and identify what support you need to implement these requirements effectively.
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Operational and logistical impacts
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PFAS chemicals for analysis
Landfill and STP PFAS Monitoring CCO
Have your say on monitoring, sampling, PFAS targets, and implementation impacts.
Have your say
Consultation is open until 5pm Tuesday 10 February 2026.
You can provide feedback by:
- Completing the short survey below (approx. 10 minutes)
- Emailing your comments to environmental.solutionsCLR@epa.nsw.gov.au
Take our survey
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
| Approved methods | The NSW EPA’s Approved Methods for the Sampling and Analysis of Water Pollutants in NSW outlines mandatory procedures for sampling and analysing water pollutants to ensure accurate, consistent, and reliable data for regulatory compliance. Learn more on the EPA website |
| CCO (Chemical Control Order) | A legal instrument under the POEO Act that allows the EPA to regulate the use, handling, and disposal of specific chemicals. |
| EPL (Environment Protection Licence) | A licence issued by the EPA that sets conditions for pollution control and environmental performance. |
| IChEMS | Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management Standard – a national framework for managing industrial chemical risks. |
| NATA-accredited laboratory | A laboratory accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities to ensure quality and reliability of test results. |
| PFAS | Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – a group of man-made chemicals that are persistent in the environment and may pose health risks. |
| PFAS NEMP 3.0 | The third version of the PFAS National Environmental Management Plan, which provides guidance on PFAS regulation and monitoring. |
| PFBS | perfluorobutane sulfonic acid |
| PFHxS | perfluorohexane sulfonic acid, or perfluorohexane sulfonate |
| PFOA | perfluorooctanoic acid, or perfluorooctanoate |
| PFOS | perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, or perfluorooctane sulfonate |
| Secondary-source PFAS site | A site that receives PFAS indirectly, such as through waste rather than from direct industrial use. |
| STP (Sewage Treatment Plant) | A facility that treats wastewater from homes and businesses before it is released into the environment. |
| US EPA Method 1633, Revision A | A laboratory method developed by the US EPA for analysing 40 PFAS compounds in water, solids, biosolids, and tissue samples using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). It provides standardized procedures and quality controls for consistent PFAS measurement across environmental matrices such as wastewater, surface water, groundwater, soil, and landfill leachate. |
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