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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. 

Topic Overview (PDF)
10 Projects 1 Webcast
Constituents of Emerging Concern (CECs)
Advanced Treatment
Endocrine Disrupting Compounds, Pharmaceuticals & Personal Care Products (EDCs & PPCPs)
Microplastics
Project #4322

Treatment Mitigation Strategies for Poly- and Perfluorinated Chemicals

$306,672
Completed

Project Highlights

The first objective of this project was to conduct a literature review covering the global occurrence and treatability of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). The second objective was to conduct a limited, strategically targeted assessment to determine the fate of these compounds...

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Principal Investigator
Eric
Dickenson
Research Manager
Mrs. Alice E Fulmer

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. 

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Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: Background Technical Information

This state of the science document provides an overview of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, including sources, health effects, regulations, occurrence and detection methods, and treatment. It also discusses WRF's published, ongoing, and future PFAS research.

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"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.

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Recent Updates

Project #5088
Defining Exposures of Microplastics /Fibers (MPs) in Treated Waters...

Reporting Period: May 1, 2021 – November 1, 2021. The database was populated first with drinking...

Project Update
03/04/2022
Project #5042
Assessing Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substance Release from Finished...

Reporting Period: June 1, 2020—August 10, 2020. Data processing is complete for baseline quantification of PFAS...

Project Update
08/13/2020
Project #4972
Expanding the Use of Wastewater Epidemiology Tools to Improve Water...

Reporting Period: February 2021 – June 2021. During this period, ERG worked with its sister company...

Project Update
08/13/2021
Project #4953
Considerations and Blending Strategies for Drinking Water System...

Reporting Period: November 1, 2021 – January 31, 2022. Cast iron distribution system pipes were tested...

Project Update
05/04/2022
Project #4833
Understanding the Impacts of Wastewater Treatment Performance on Advanced...

Reporting Period: July 1, 2021 - January 1, 2022. This reporting period, full chapter drafts from...

Project Update
05/04/2022
Project #4954
Integration of High-Frequency Performance Data for...

Reporting Period: September 2021 – November 2021. A survey of select utilities that employ potable reuse...

Project Update
04/06/2022
Project #4168
Quantitative Structure Property Relationships (QSPR) to Predict Removal...
Project Update
11/19/2020
Project #5111
Studying the Fate of PFAS through Sewage Sludge ...

Reporting Period: April 15, 2021 – October 15, 2021. During this period, project kickoff and Project...

Project Update
01/26/2022
Project #5082
Investigation of Alternative Management Strategies to Prevent...

Reporting Period: August 1, 2021 – October 31, 2021. Utility surveys were drafted for each of...

Project Update
03/11/2022
Project #5070
Investigation of Nanobubble Technology for the Removal of MIB and...

Reporting Period: August 1, 2020 to February 1, 2021. The main findings from this project period...

Project Update
05/28/2021

News

WRF Announces the Release of RFPs for 12 Research Projects

Press Release
08/17/2020

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) has released Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for 12 new projects funded through WRF’s Research Priority Program. This strategic program enables WRF to address broadly relevant...

View all Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) News

Resources

View all Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Resources

Related Topics

Link

Constituents of Emerging Concern (CECs)

Link

Advanced Treatment

Link

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

Link

Microplastics

Link

Source Water Protection

Link

Groundwater Management & Protection

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