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Carollo Engineers and The Water Research Foundation publish groundbreaking PFAS source-tracking research

Release Date: August 6, 2024

PFAS molecules with Carollo and The Water Research Foundation Logos over top

WRF Project #5082 offers guidance for PFAS source evaluation and remediation for utilities

WALNUT CREEK, CA, AUG. 6, 2024 – Carollo Engineers, in partnership with The Water Research Foundation (WRF), today announce the completion of Project #5082, a pioneering study providing water utilities with practical, cost-effective strategies for evaluating and mitigating sources of PFAS contamination.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large group of human-made chemicals that have been used in many industries due to their heat, water, and oil resistance. These substances can enter the water supply through the use of everyday consumer products, industrial discharges, percolation of firefighting foams into groundwater, and leachate from disposal sites.

Led by Carollo in collaboration with numerous utilities, academic institutions, and consultants, the project, titled Investigation of Alternative Management Strategies to Prevent PFAS from Entering Drinking Water Supplies and Wastewater, employed a comprehensive system-level approach. The research meticulously assessed PFAS sources to wastewater, surface water, and groundwater treated by utilities across the U.S. to gather essential information.

Significant aspects of the study included:

  • Surveys on utilities’ PFAS monitoring, tracking, and mitigation practices.
  • Sampling in the collection systems of multiple wastewater treatment plants to understand the relative importance of industrial and domestic sources.
  • Sampling in multiple watersheds to understand the relative importance of direct sources and sources via wastewater treatment systems.
  • Synthesizing this science into an actionable guidebook for utilities.

Additionally, granular activated carbon (GAC) rapid small-scale column tests (RSSCTs) were conducted to analyze PFAS breakthrough in effluent from several wastewater facilities. RSSCTs utilize mini-columns, smaller media sizes, and established scaling equations to quickly evaluate the effectiveness and economic viability of adsorption media, like GAC, for contaminant removal from impacted waters.

The published study offers utilities a step-by-step guidebook for identifying PFAS sources, including recommendations for sampling and analysis to assess the severity and potential impact of PFAS contamination. Project #5082 also provides guidance on feasible and cost-effective solutions tailored to various water systems to prevent PFAS from entering or transferring between systems.

Furthermore, the study includes crucial insights for setting national policy priorities on PFAS. While addressing industrial sources of PFAS before they enter our water systems is essential, the research highlights that everyday consumer product use is the dominant contributor of PFAS to water and wastewater systems on a total mass basis. This pattern holds true across three key areas:

  • Groundwater: Leaky landfills are the most common source of PFAS contamination.
  • Wastewater systems: The PFAS from domestic sources contribute more mass than industrial sources.
  • Surface waters: Passing through wastewater systems is the predominant pathway for PFAS entering surface waters.

WRF 5082 predicts that de facto reuse results in widespread, albeit low, detectable levels of PFAS in U.S. surface waters. These predictions are being confirmed through the EPA’s required sampling under the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5).

“This project provides essential context for policymakers to understand the inherent circularity in our nation’s water systems and the resulting impact on contaminant cycling, such as PFAS,” said Carollo Water Reuse Practice Director and Project #5082 Principal Investigator Dr. Eva Steinle-Darling. “While individual utilities can take actions to prevent PFAS from entering their specific systems, the ultimate solution at the national level lies in reducing PFAS use at their primary sources: consumer and industrial products.”

For more information and to access the full report, visit WRF Project #5082.

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Media Contact:
Cameron McWilliam
Senior Public Relations Manager
[email protected]