Veolia, the France-based environmental services company, has unveiled an unprecedented national measurement initiative aimed at analyzing regulated PFAS levels across all its drinking water production sites in France. This move comes soon after the U.S. EPA announced the final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six PFAS on Wednesday.
The campaign, initiated by Veolia last November, predates the 2026 mandate for health authorities to include PFAS parameters in routine water quality checks.
To assess potential PFAS presence in drinking water based on 2023 quality thresholds, the campaign also seeks to assist local authorities in meeting new quality standards where necessary.
Veolia has already conducted assessments at two-thirds of its drinking water treatment plants, serving approximately 15 million people across France. Compliance with the new PFAS standards has been confirmed for 99% of these contracts. Scheduled for completion before summer 2024, the campaign aims to accumulate practical insights into managing these pollutants in France, which will be shared with health authorities.
For contracts where non-compliance with new quality standards was identified, Veolia promptly notified regional health agencies and local authorities. Tailored action plans were proposed to diagnose issues and implement appropriate treatments, with a focus on customer communication.
Utilizing its advanced research and development capabilities and operational expertise from projects worldwide, including in the US and Australia, Veolia employs activated carbon and membrane-based processes to treat PFAS-contaminated water. Implementation timelines vary depending on pollution complexity, but initial measures can often be deployed within months.
