PFAS Compliance

With the federal government having proposed numeric standards for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water, municipalities will soon be on the clock for monitoring and treatment requirements. The contaminants, which were once used in industrial operations and as an element in firefighting foam, have found their way into source water throughout the country. Understanding the scope of the problem and the potential treatment options is the key for water utility managers to be in the best position to maintain compliance.

Of course, compliance comes with a significant price tag, which remains a point of contention for many stakeholders. If industrial operations or the military — the latter being responsible for extensive PFAS pollution from the use of firefighting foam during training exercises — are indeed culpable, should they bear the burden of some or all of the compliance costs, rather than utilities and ratepayers?

This collection of articles examines the many points of interest around the PFAS issue, from the proposed regulations to treatment options to legal and financial considerations — all to help you surmount this pressing and prevalent problem.