Preparing Your Community for Emerging Contaminants

By Susan Danzl, Andrew Knapp, and Melanie Niday

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are top of mind for many municipalities, and rightly so. Created in the 1940s, PFAS are referred to as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down when released into the environment and can build up in the bodies of humans and animals. PFAS are among a group of “contaminants of emerging concern” (or emerging contaminants) — a priority across the U.S. because they pose a potential risk to public and environmental health.

Where are PFAS found?

PFAS are nearly everywhere. Because of their unique properties, they have found their way into many products we use daily, such as:

• Food packaging
• Nonstick cookware
• Paints, varnishes, and sealants
• Stain-resistant textiles
• Water-resistant products
• Personal care products
• Fire extinguishing foam

Because these chemicals are used in so many consumer products, PFAS have been detected in our groundwater and drinking water, soil and air, and in the food that we eat, including fish and animals.

How PFAS are released into the environment

There are many pathways for PFAS to enter the natural environment. Long before experts were aware of the health impacts, PFAS-containing firefighting foam (AFFFs) was widely used — exposing soil and groundwater to these emerging contaminants. In addition, as certain industries create products made with PFAS, the manufacturing process can cause their release into the air and waste streams.

Due to their stable bonds and resistance to breaking down, PFAS are very difficult to destroy. Removing PFAS from one source without destroying the compounds, shifts the problem to another location. PFAS can be removed from drinking water, for example, but these treatment processes concentrate the PFAS in another waste stream that might be landfilled or routed to a wastewater treatment plant. Even landfills are not the final resting place for PFAS because landfills produce a liquid waste stream that is treated at wastewater treatment plants, and conventional wastewater treatment still needs to remove or destroy PFAS.

How PFAs enter and cycle throughout the environment, industries, and our homes

Following are five suggestions on ways to prepare your community for emerging contaminates:

1. Research your state; look to your neighbors. Research applicable state agencies to learn about upcoming plans and policies. Find live webinars and recorded webcasts, FAQs, and other resources to inform your teams and community. Whether the efforts are specific to drinking water, wastewater, fire prevention, or other areas, knowing what’s being done and what’s ahead is helpful.

2. Join a statewide or national organization. Memberships or subscriptions with organizations can give you access to key resources, news and regulation alerts, and information-sharing events. Agencies like these are often the first to report the news and happenings that you need to know.

3. Stay current with upcoming plans and policies. PFAS news is starting to be available more frequently and with more direct actions. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released in October 2021 its PFAS Strategic Roadmap: EPA’s Commitment to Action 2021-2024. The roadmap lays out an approach to addressing PFAS in waterways, drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and air. It sets “timelines by which the EPA plans to take specific actions and commit to bolder new policies to safeguard public health, protect the environment, and hold polluters accountable.”

4. Do the little things. Reduce risks within your community by educating residents on preventing the spread of PFAS in their daily lives. Though seemingly simple, every intentional effort plays a role in reducing PFAS in our families and communities.

5. Plan and design ahead. Start planning and designing your community to be prepared for and equipped to navigate PFAS. When designing a new water treatment plant, consider leaving space for a potential addition should PFAS be found and removal processes needed. Make sure new water supply wells are upstream from potentially contaminated sources like industrial waste sites, AFFF sites, Brownfields and Superfund sites, wastewater treatment plants, and land-applied biosolids. Look closely at the AFFFs used by your emergency response teams and local airport, and other PFAS-containing products your community may rely on.

Proactive and preventive measures are working

Many efforts have been made to prevent the spread and eventually eliminate PFAS from our products, foods we eat, water we drink, and the environment. Whether overseeing a water treatment facility, wastewater treatment plant, public safety facility, or planning upcoming infrastructure projects, invest time in understanding PFAS and the levels within your community. But most importantly: take a calm approach and don’t react too quickly. Guidance and regulations will arrive in time.

Susan Danzl is the wastewater market lead at SEH, Andrew Knapp is a graduate water engineer at SEH, and Melanie Niday is a project manager and senior hydrogeologist at SEH. SEH is a member of the League’s Business Leadership Council (lmc.org/sponsors).