For business owners, industrial plants and municipalities, PFAS water contamination poses an urgent issue. A temporary PFAS remediation solution can remove these toxic “forever” chemicals from wastewater or groundwater when they are discovered unexpectedly or when a permanent PFAS treatment installation fails or requires upgrading.

Organizations have a wide range of temporary PFAS removal technologies to choose from. Given today’s tight budgets, PFAS removal efficiency is one of the prime considerations, of course. But for a true cost comparison, budget-conscious engineers and project managers should factor in PFAS disposal and other end-of-life costs when determining which technologies will prove most cost-effective.

Temporary PFAS remediation basics

PFAS, or per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are persistent chemicals linked with a wide range of health problems, from cancer to infertility. PFAS regulations call for limiting their levels in drinking water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed adding nine PFAS compounds to its list of hazardous constituents under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. This classification would impose stricter requirements for PFAS treatment and disposal, so water treatment managers must stay abreast of changes.

In some situations, a permanent PFAS treatment installation isn’t necessary to treat PFAS in water. For example, a temporary PFAS remediation solution may be sufficient for a short-term industrial operation. Similarly, if underground infrastructure construction or repairs require dewatering and the water contains PFAS or other contaminants, a temporary water treatment solution can help project owners meet regulatory requirements.

Factors to look for in a temporary PFAS remediation solution

The variety of PFAS treatment technologies available can make choosing the optimal method challenging. A full-service rental equipment provider with deep expertise and experience in designing and installing water filtration systems, including PFAS remediation systems, can guide customers to the most advantageous solution.

Factors to look for in an effective solution include:

• Ease of use. Ease of use is especially important for organizations that don’t have in-house water treatment experts or the manpower for extensive operator oversight.
• Custom design. The optimal PFAS removal solution depends on many factors, including the water chemistry, the specific PFAS compounds and their concentrations, other contaminants present in the water (which can affect filter efficiency) and the volume and flow rate of water to be treated. The vendor should bring a full understanding of PFAS chemicals, including the differences between short-chain and long-chain PFAS.
• Ongoing technical support. The PFAS remediation company that designed the solution should provide technical support and be capable of troubleshooting any problems that may arise.

Evaluating the total cost of PFAS treatment and disposal

After PFAS is removed from water, the chemicals remain in the spent filter media, or in the brine/reject water in the case of reverse osmosis for PFAS removal. Organizations are required to manage, dispose of or treat that waste in accordance with evolving environmental regulations to avoid future legal liability.

Understanding disposal logistics and the cost of handling spent media or waste is crucial when evaluating the total cost of a solution. A reliable PFAS remediation partner should be able to provide expert guidance on waste characterization, profiling and disposal for each remediation method, even if they do not offer PFAS waste handling services.

Advantages of granulated activated carbon for PFAS removal

Temporary PFAS removal technologies include ion exchange (IX) resin, reverse osmosis and granular activated carbon. In many cases, granular activated carbon (GAC) should be given first consideration, both for cost and environmental reasons.

GAC filtration systems are relatively simple to run. The carbon is heated until the PFAS and other contaminants break down, at which point the carbon can often be recycled and reused. The EPA does not classify it as hazardous waste, so it does not require specialized hazardous waste handling.

By contrast, ion exchange resins may require incineration or landfilling, and reverse osmosis produces PFAS-laden brine, which requires special handling that can drive up disposal costs. Landfilling PFAS-laden materials can contribute to long-term environmental contamination risks, while incineration may release harmful byproducts into the air.

Tips for reducing physical media costs

When designing a PFAS remediation solution, one cost-saving strategy entails filtering out other contaminants first so as not to use up the physical media filters needed to remove the PFAS.

High levels of natural organic carbon or total suspended solids, for instance, may be removed with a sand filter, clarifier or other treatment. Then a dedicated media filter such as an ion exchange resin filter can be used to filter the PFAS. This approach not only removes more contaminants but also minimizes filter changeouts, bringing down the total cost of treatment.

The importance of documentation

Organizations must keep thorough records of PFAS treatment and disposal processes to demonstrate compliance with environmental regulations and avoid PFAS liability, which can potentially follow a treatment operation for years after disposal. Through careful documentation, managers can validate that they have adhered to the rules as written, even as regulations evolve.

Certain technologies, including reverse osmosis, generate waste streams that require extensive documentation. Choosing a technology with less regulatory complexity reduces the associated recordkeeping burden.

A cradle-to-grave strategy

Effective PFAS management requires a cradle-to-grave strategy that considers not just the efficiency of the PFAS removal technology but also regulatory compliance, disposal and environmental sustainability. Partnering with a vendor who can guide the remediation process from water assessment to technology selection to waste handling is the key to treating PFAS in accordance with the law and at the lowest cost possible.

Contact the United Rentals Fluid Solutions group for expert help with PFAS remediation or any filtration needs.