New guidance will build industry consensus and ultimately accelerate PFAS treatment projects for communities nationwide
Black & Veatch has been selected by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) to develop nationwide guidance for pilot testing treatment for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals.”
The resulting PFAS Piloting Guidance document will bring together minimum requirements and provide best practices for water utilities, regulators and engineers to build common understanding within the drinking water community and ultimately accelerate PFAS treatment projects for water systems and their communities nationwide.
In April 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six forever chemicals. On a state level, many states have not developed formal regulatory requirements for validating and approving PFAS projects, and those that have default to intensive piloting requirements, unnecessarily delaying project timelines.
“This project is critically important to equip our industry with the information they need to make informed decisions about PFAS treatment projects in a timely manner,” said Amanda Canida, senior water process engineer and lead on the project for Black & Veatch. “PFAS treatment projects are of paramount importance to protecting the health and safety of communities, and with tight timelines, water utilities can’t afford unnecessary delays in the process.”
“In collaboration with the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA), we will be analyzing existing state permitting requirements and creating a path forward to nationwide guidance,” said Adam Feffer, senior water process engineer and PFAS practice lead, Black & Veatch. “The resulting manual will incorporate other stakeholder inputs and ultimately help expedite the implementation of effective PFAS treatment solutions in a safe and efficient way.”
The project will incorporate feedback from primary agencies and the EPA. The final guidance document will be available in early 2025.
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