A six-month sampling program has confirmed PFAS levels are below the latest ecological and recreational guidelines in the Central Coast's Tuggerah Lakes catchment.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) launched the surface water sampling program in September 2025. Working with the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), scientists took 114 samples at 19 locations.
NSW EPA Director Incident Management and Environmental Health Jacinta Hanemann said the monitoring confirmed that while PFAS is commonly detected in the environment, the levels are no cause for alarm.
"The results of this comprehensive sampling program should assure the community that they can continue to enjoy activities like swimming and boating at Tuggerah Lakes," Ms Hanemann said.
"All samples were below recreational and ecological water quality guidelines, which is good news for people on the Central Coast.
"We know there are concerns about the presence of PFAS due to a range of industrial activities in the catchment area, including landfills, power stations and historic firefighting activities.
"It's important to acknowledge that while PFAS chemicals are commonly found in our environment, this does not mean there is a risk to people's health."
The findings will inform future PFAS studies and add to existing data from EPA sampling in Ourimbah Creek and its tributaries since 2016.
All results are available on the EPA's website.
