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Analyzing PFAS in Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs): Analytical Challenges, and Statistical Insights into Spatial-Temporal Variability, and Potential Precursor Transformation
Citation:
Modiri, M., P. Sasi, B. Crone, P. Potter, AND Marc A. Mills. Analyzing PFAS in Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs): Analytical Challenges, and Statistical Insights into Spatial-Temporal Variability, and Potential Precursor Transformation. REMTEC & Emerging Contaminants Summit, Westminster, CO, October 03 - 05, 2023.
Impact/Purpose:
PFAS are ubiquitous in wastewater treatment systems. There is a critical need to assess the fate and transport of PFAS in wastewater. This study seeks to identify long-term variability of PFAS in wastewater treatment plants using biweekly sampling and a variety of analytical methods. This data is of particular use to publicly-owned treatment works, PFAS researchers, and potential regulation considerations.
Description:
There is a critical research gap regarding the fate of PFAS in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). To address this gap, six WWTPs fulfilling a range of criteria were selected for long-term PFAS monitoring. Differing size, influent types, treatment technologies, and geographical locations were considered while selecting the WWTPs. Biweekly sampling of multiple locations along each treatment process was carried out. EPA Method 1633 was used to track the concentrations of a targeted PFAS list while certain samples were selected for TOP/TOF analysis. The project is still ongoing, but preliminary data supports the following conclusions: (1) specific sources that greatly impact variability and offer pretreatment options; (2) PFAS variability decreases from influent to effluent; and (3) PFAS partitioning between solids and liquid streams may influence future treatment technology selection.