The NSW EPA has announced new PFAS monitoring requirements NSW for licensed landfills and sewage treatment plants, coming into effect from 1 October 2026. Under the new Chemical Control Order, affected operators will need to monitor PFAS in wastewater and provide annual reports to the EPA.

While PFAS has attracted significant attention in recent years, the introduction of these monitoring requirements represents a broader shift towards understanding where PFAS exists within the waste and wastewater cycle, how it moves through treatment systems, and where it ultimately ends up.
For operators, this is an opportunity to move beyond compliance and gain a clearer understanding of the contaminants entering their facility, the effectiveness of existing treatment processes, and potential opportunities for risk reduction.

Understanding PFAS in Wastewater

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of synthetic compounds valued for their resistance to heat, water and oils. These same characteristics make them highly persistent in the environment.

PFAS can enter wastewater systems through a variety of pathways including:

• Landfill leachate
• Industrial wastewater discharges
• Surface water runoff
• Firefighting foam contamination
• Resource recovery operations
• Waste transfer facilities
• Biosolids and sludge handling processes

Importantly, many facilities identified for monitoring are not necessarily the original source of PFAS contamination. Rather, they often act as collection and concentration points where PFAS-containing waste streams converge.

As monitoring programs expand, operators will increasingly require a detailed understanding of contaminant pathways throughout their site.

Why PFAS monitoring requirements NSW matter

The introduction of monitoring requirements does not automatically indicate a treatment problem. However, it does mean operators should begin asking important questions:

• What contaminants are entering the facility?
• Where are they originating from?
• How are they moving through the treatment process?
• Are contaminants accumulating in sludge, biosolids or residual waste streams?
• Are existing treatment systems achieving the desired outcomes?
• What risks exist for future discharge compliance?

In many cases, the first step is not additional treatment. It is obtaining reliable data and understanding the behaviour of the wastewater.

At Qtech Australia, we have consistently found that identifying the source of contamination is often more effective and economical than simply treating the symptom downstream.

Key Areas Operators Should Review

Treatment Plant Performance

Operators should review the overall performance of wastewater and leachate treatment systems, including hydraulic loading, contaminant loading, process reliability and discharge quality.

Understanding existing treatment limitations is essential before considering any process modifications.

Sampling Strategy

Effective monitoring starts with effective sampling.

Sampling locations should be selected to identify contaminant sources, treatment effectiveness and potential accumulation points throughout the process.

Poor sampling programs often generate data without providing meaningful insight.

PFAS Pathway Assessment

PFAS may be present in multiple locations throughout a facility, including:

• Raw influent
• Leachate collection systems
• Balance tanks
• Treatment plant effluent
• Sludge and biosolids
• Groundwater
• Surface water runoff
• Recycled water streams

Understanding where PFAS resides within the process is critical when evaluating management strategies.

Treatment Technology Assessment

There is no universal PFAS treatment solution.

The most suitable approach depends on:

• PFAS concentration
• Water chemistry
• Flow rates
• Suspended solids loading
• Organic loading
• Disposal requirements
• Site-specific operational constraints

In many applications, treatment may involve a combination of contaminant separation, adsorption, concentration and waste management rather than complete destruction of PFAS.

Future Compliance Planning

As regulatory understanding of PFAS continues to evolve, operators who establish robust monitoring programs now will be better positioned to respond to future requirements.

Facilities that understand their wastewater characteristics and contaminant pathways are generally able to make more informed and cost-effective decisions when upgrades become necessary.

“PFAS monitoring is not just about reporting. It is about understanding your wastewater system before compliance pressure increases.”

How Qtech Australia Can Help

Qtech Australia specialises in the identification, separation and management of contaminants within industrial and environmental water systems.

Our approach focuses on understanding the source of contamination, assessing existing treatment performance and developing practical engineering solutions tailored to each site.

Services include:

• PFAS readiness assessments
• Wastewater and leachate treatment reviews
• Sampling program development
• Process engineering assessments
• Chemical treatment optimisation
• Pilot plant trials
• Treatment technology evaluation
• Treatment plant upgrades
• Ongoing operational support

With increasing focus on PFAS across Australia, operators who take a proactive approach today will be better prepared for tomorrow’s regulatory landscape.

PFAS monitoring should not be viewed solely as a compliance exercise. It is an opportunity to better understand site operations, identify contaminant sources, reduce environmental risk and improve long-term treatment performance.

If your site may be affected by the new PFAS monitoring requirements NSW, now is the right time to review your wastewater treatment readiness.

---