Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of emerging contaminants, are making headlines as they accumulate at wastewater treatment facilities – the result of their widespread use in consumer and industrial products. PFAS are persistent and mobile once released into the environment and can harm human health.
Novel technologies are being developed to treat PFAS in municipal wastewater and sludge. However, to understand whether these treatments destroy or remove PFAS, further study is needed to track what is in the air, water, and solid phases once the treatment is complete. Presently, wastewater facilities have limited treatment options as scientists and researchers work to develop these processes.
While technology advances, NEIWPCC, in partnership with the North East Biosolids and Residuals Association (NEBRA), is facilitating discussions among stakeholders from Northeast states’ health and environment departments, wastewater treatment facilities, environmental consulting and law firms, universities, and national environmental organizations.
Out of these conversations emerged the concept of the Biosolids Technology Hub, or BioHub. NEIWPCC created this online resource to serve as an information clearinghouse on research and funding for piloting, planning, and permitting treatment of PFAS in municipal biosolids or sludge. The project webpage includes downloadable summaries of crowd-sourced information intended to help regulators and clean water practitioners find solutions for municipal sludge management and disposal. The summaries focus on published literature, treatment projects, and technology vendors that can remove or destroy PFAS in wastewater biosolids or sludge. By compiling and sharing this information publicly, the BioHub provides the clean water industry and other interested parties with resources to address the PFAS challenge.
The BioHub is housed and updated on the NEIWPCC website. To submit a resource to the clearinghouse, please fill out the form on the project webpage.