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Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also commonly referred to as perfluorinated chemicals or PFCs, are a group of anthropogenic chemicals with past and current uses in industrial processes and consumer products. In 2006, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classified some PFAS as likely human carcinogens. 

PFAS are used in firefighting foams, coating for food packaging, ScotchGard™, and Teflon™, among other products. PFAS are highly resistant to chemical decomposition and can enter source waters through industrial releases, wastewater treatment plant discharges, stormwater runoff, release of firefighting foams, and land application of contaminated biosolids. 

For more information, contact Mary Smith.

Topic Overview (PDF)
33 Projects 5 Webcasts
Advanced Treatment
Constituents of Emerging Concern (CECs)
Endocrine Disrupting Compounds and Pharmaceuticals & Personal Care Products (EDCs & PPCPs)
Microplastics
Project 5031

Occurrence of PFAS Compounds in US Wastewater Treatment Plants

$899,693
Completed

Project Highlights

This study closely evaluated PFAS at 38 water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs), looking at both quantifiable and semiquantifiable PFAS, the contribution of precursors, and PFAS mass flows between the aqueous and solid phases. The ubiquitous presence and elevated concentrations of...

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Deprecated Principal Investigator
Charles
Schaefer
Director of Research Services
Mary M Smith

What are PFAS?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are more relevant than ever before. “Currently, we don’t have a good understanding of how many PFAS compounds are being used by the industry. That makes it challenging for us in terms of measuring them . . . We can effectively measure maybe 30–50 of these compounds, but we know that there are over several thousands of these compounds being used,” says Dr. Kenan Ozekin in our latest topic-focused video all about PFAS. Learn more about these evasive compounds from our experts.

Thinking About PFAS in Drinking Water: Core Message Sheet

This concise handout can be used by utilities and other agencies to communicate core messages about PFAS: what they are, where they come from, why they are a concern, and what solutions exist to deal with them.

Download the Fact Sheet

Talking to Customers and Communities About PFAS

This article, authored by current and former WRF staff, offers risk communication guidance, grounded in WRF research, that utilities can use when communicating about PFAS. The article was published in the May 2020 issue of Journal AWWA. 

Read the Article

Recent Updates

Project 5125
Unregulated Organic Chemicals in Biosolids: Prioritization, Fate, and...

Reporting Period: October 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023

Project Update
05/25/2023
Project 5125
Unregulated Organic Chemicals in Biosolids: Prioritization, Fate, and...

Reporting Period: June 30 – October 1, 2023

Project Update
04/05/2024
Project 5125
Unregulated Organic Chemicals in Biosolids: Prioritization, Fate and...

Reporting Period: May 1, 2022 – October 1, 2022

Project Update
02/16/2023
Project 5237
Ozone Nanobubbles for Water Treatment

Reporting Period: August 2024 – April 2025

Project Update
05/23/2025
Project 5211
Understanding the Value Proposition for Thermal Processes to Mitigate...

Reporting Period: January 15, 2024 – July 15, 2024

Project Update
09/04/2024
Project 5211
Understanding the Value Proposition for Thermal Processes to Mitigate...

Reporting Period: April â€“ July 2023

Project Update
08/15/2023
Project 5211
Understanding the Value Proposition for Thermal Processes to Mitigate...

Reporting Period: July 2024 – January 2025

Project Update
02/20/2025
Project 5170
State of the Science and Regulatory Acceptability for PFAS Residual...

Reporting Period: July 8– October 13, 2023

Project Update
12/29/2023
Project 5170
State of the Science and Regulatory Acceptability for PFAS Residual...

Reporting Period: July 2024 – October 2024

Project Update
02/04/2025
Project 5210
Real-Time Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds in RO-Based...

Reporting Period: January 15 – September 15, 2023

Project Update
11/08/2023

Resources

View all Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Resources

WRF PFAS Resources

Newsletter
04/10/2024

April 2024 On April 10, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a new legally enforceable drinking water standard for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Water Research Foundation...

Related Topics

Link

Constituents of Emerging Concern (CECs)

Link

Advanced Treatment

Link

Endocrine Disrupting Compounds and Pharmaceuticals & Personal Care Products (EDCs & PPCPs)

Link

Microplastics

Link

Source Water Protection

Link

Groundwater Management & Protection

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