These Guidelines aim to protect Australians from threats posed by the recreational use of coastal, estuarine and fresh water environments.
These Guidelines are currently being updated by NHMRC’s Recreational Water Quality Advisory Committee. For information on the update of these guidelines see the project summary page.
Publication Data
January 2026: Public consultation is open on the draft Australian Recreational Water Quality Guidelines. Once finalised and published following public consultation, these guidelines will replace the Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water (2008) and Guidance on Per and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Recreational Water (2019). For more information, see the Public Notice – January 2026 below or make a submission. Submissions close on 27 February 2026.
Update 15 January 2026
PUBLIC NOTICE: Public consultation on the draft Australian Recreational Water Quality Guidelines
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has updated the Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water (2008). These have been renamed the draft Australian Recreational Water Quality Guidelines (the draft Guidelines) to better reflect the scope of the guidance. These draft Guidelines are intended to replace the 2008 NHMRC Guidelines and Guidance on Per and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Recreational Water (2019) when they are finalised and published following public consultation. The update of the draft Guidelines was overseen by the Recreational Water Quality Advisory Committee.
Under section 13(d) of the National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992, NHMRC invites submissions to be made on the draft Guidelines.
You can make a submission via the online form on the NHMRC Consultation Hub. The draft Guidelines, supporting evidence review reports and an overview of the guideline development process, are also available on the NHMRC Consultation Hub. The closing date for submissions is 27 February 2026.
On 27 November 2025 the NHMRC Council advised the CEO to release the draft Guidelines. This public notice for the public consultation fulfills the notification requirements in accordance with section 7 of the National Health and Medical Research Council Regulation 2016.
PFAS in recreational water
In 2019 NHMRC released an addendum to the Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water. Guidance on per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in recreational water was developed by NHMRC's Water Quality Advisory Committee and recommended for public release by the Council of NHMRC in March 2019. NHMRC's Chief Executive Officer released the Guidance on 12 August 2019.
See also PFAS Guidance for Recreational Water – Frequently Asked Questions.
