RESOURCES · CASE STUDIES · PFAS MANAGEMENT
Treating 1 Million Gallons of PFAS-Contaminated Water On-Site
After a fire-suppression release contaminated roughly 500,000 gallons of water with PFAS, WTS piloted and scaled on-site GAC treatment, treating about 1 million gallons, achieving ~99.93% waste reduction and cost savings in the millions.
Client: Long-term WTS manufacturing client
Focus: PFAS management · Compliance · Cost · Waste reduction
Understanding the Contamination
A leaking fire-suppression check valve released about 100 gallons of AFFF into the facility’s fire loop. Samples across the loop were analyzed for PFAS by isotope dilution (EPA Draft Method 1633); contamination reached 39,300 ppt (6:2 FTS) nearest the leak, far above the 70 ppt drinking-water standard for combined PFOA and PFOS.
Proving the Solution
A small-scale granular activated carbon (GAC) pilot brought treated water to 20 ppt or lower, with PFOA and PFOS non-detect. WTS and the client worked with state and local regulators to demonstrate effectiveness and secure approval to scale, conditioned on continuous testing confirming PFOA + PFOS below 70 ppt.
Treating at Scale
Water ran through a GAC system of three vessels in series (a fourth on standby for carbon changeout) at 40 GPM for about seven weeks. The fire loop was triple-rinsed and the rinsewater treated as well, with samples pulled twice weekly to monitor carbon breakthrough and confirm compliance.
Why It Matters
PFAS problems rarely come with a settled playbook. Solving this one took analytical rigor, a proven treatment approach, and the regulatory groundwork to get a first-of-its-kind (for that state) solution approved.
THE RESULT
~1M gallons
treated and discharged to the local POTW
~99.93%
waste reduction vs. shipping off-site
Millions
in cost savings; only 16 drums of spent carbon shipped
CASE STUDIES
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