Presented by the Monterey Bay Section of CWEA

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous and recalcitrant. Best available technologies for PFAS (ion exchange, activated carbon, and reverse osmosis) are expensive and separate PFAS but do not destroy it, leading to disposal concerns. Therefore, it is highly beneficial to characterize PFAS sources and minimize PFAS contamination of water resources in the first place. For a WRF-funded project, we reviewed PFAS source databases, surveyed utilities about their PFAS source control efforts, and conducted thorough PFAS mass balances in both watersheds and sewersheds, The data and insights from these efforts then informed a guidebook for how utilities across the One Water Spectrum can track down and eliminate PFAS sources.