State of the Science and Regulatory Acceptability for PFAS Residual Management Options

PFAS are widely found in natural waterbodies, soils, water and wastewater treatment residuals, and biosolids. There is an urgent need for immediate identification of currently available residual management options and the evaluation of their suitability under various operational and regulatory circumstances.

EA is currently leading several relevant projects including the evaluation of the inner workings of PFAS fate, sequestration, and transformation in WWTPs under a contract with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Office of Research and Development (ORD) that is aimed at increasing our understanding of the treatment processes that either hinder, exacerbate, or mitigate PFAS levels in waste streams.

The overall goal of this study is to: (1) identify currently available per – and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) residual management options and evaluate their suitability under various operational and regulatory circumstances; (2) provide an overview of PFAS residual management guidelines and regulations, including state-specific considerations; (3) convene a workshop with federal and state regulators and utilities to validate regulatory acceptability and limitations of various management approaches for water treatment residuals and waste management; and (4) develop a tool to help utilities evaluate PFAS residual management options under various circumstances.