Evidence Evaluations for Australian Drinking Water Guidelines

National Health and Medical Research Council, in conjunction with staff from SLR, developed a new methodological framework to guide updates to chemical fact sheets and other sections of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. The methodological framework provides consistency across updates and aligns with international best practice in evidence review methods and guideline development.

SLR was engaged to apply the methodological framework to 11 chemical fact sheets (including a number of metals/metalloids and inorganics) by undertaking a review of existing guidance and assessing the methods used by national/international agencies, undertaking a literature review of studies published since the most recent guideline document and assessing whether supporting information in the fact sheet is up to date and providing evidence to inform any changes to the guidance.

The findings of each review were reviewed and accepted by National Health and Medical Research Council and an independent Water Quality Advisory Committee.