Black & Veatch has been chosen by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) to create nationwide guidance for pilot testing treatments addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as “forever chemicals.”
The forthcoming PFAS Piloting Guidance Manual will outline minimum requirements and best practices, aiming to foster a shared understanding among water utilities, regulators, and engineers. This collaborative effort seeks to accelerate the deployment of PFAS treatment projects nationwide, benefiting both water systems and their communities.
In April 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six PFAS 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. Where such regulations exist, they often require extensive pilot testing, delaying critical projects. The guidance manual from Black & Veatch is expected to streamline this process, ensuring timely implementation of PFAS treatment systems.
“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.”
Drinking water utilities must comply with the U.S. EPA’s drinking water standard for PFAS by April 26, 2029. Design, bidding and construction timelines for PFAS treatment projects frequently require in-excess of three years, leaving utilities a short window to implement a solution. By creating an industry consensus, the PFAS Piloting Guidance Manual will match piloting requirements to the complexity and novelty of proposed treatment, expediting the process for established treatment technologies and ultimately assisting utilities in meeting EPA’s PFAS compliance deadlines.
“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 at 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 integrate feedback from key agencies, including the EPA, and the final guidance document is slated for release in early 2025.