Combating the Invisible Threat: 4 Considerations for PFAS Compliance

The world is combating one of the greatest public health issues of our time, and you may not even know it.

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely detected in U.S. drinking water and wastewater systems. These “forever chemicals” known for their resistance to decomposition, pose a risk to more than 172 million Americans.

As federal and state regulations evolve, municipal leaders are under increasing pressure to address contamination. Yet they remain tasked with balancing operational constraints, capital costs, and system resilience. To address these needs, municipalities will need proactive design strategies. Successful solutions will prove to be adaptable to policy adjustments and provide effective treatment methods to safeguard the environment and community trust.

What are PFAS and Where are They Found?

PFAS refers to thousands of chemicals that have been used prolifically since the 1940s. They include common products found in the building industry and household goods. Many products designed to be durable, heat resistant, or repellent, ranging from stain-resistant sprays, cosmetics, grease-resistant food wrappers, artificial turf, and firefighting foams contain this class of PFAS compounds. Their extensive decade-long integration into everyday life has made them ubiquitous: they can be found in drinking water, industrial soils, fish, contaminated soil adjacent to food crops, and yes – given their firm integration into the environment – even in our blood.

Understanding PFAS Mandates

Regulatory oversight of PFAS has accelerated in recent years. Federal agencies have established enforceable limits for certain PFAS compounds, and many states have adopted even more stringent standards. Municipalities must often implement enhanced reporting and treatment protocols for drinking water and, in some cases, wastewater discharges. The variability across jurisdictions is complex, making early assessment and planning essential.

For municipal decision-makers, compliance should be viewed as a moving target, not as a static requirement. As research continues to uncover other adverse health risks due to PFAS exposure, regulations are likely to expand to include more compounds and lower permissible thresholds. Proactive planning grounded in a clear understanding of current requirements and expected future changes can help avoid reactive investments and costly system retrofits.

Effective Mitigation Strategies for PFAS Contamination

Successful prevention begins by identifying sources of contamination and implementing consistent monitoring programs. Industrial discharges, firefighting foams, and legacy land uses can all contribute to elevated PFAS levels within water systems. Once PFAS presence is confirmed, municipalities must evaluate treatment tactics that align with their specific water chemistry, capacity, and regulatory obligations.

Equally important is considering operational impacts. Treatment solutions should be evaluated not only for their removal efficiency, but also for long-term maintenance, waste handling, energy use, and lifecycle costs. Adding mitigation needs into broader capital planning can help municipalities maximize efficiency while decreasing disruption to existing operations.

1. Employ Emerging Treatment Technologies

Today, a range of proven treatment technologies are available to address PFAS contamination. Each option provides certain advantages depending on site conditions and compliance goals.

Granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration remains one of the most widely deployed solutions, valued for its effectiveness, operational familiarity, and feasibility across a wide range of system sizes.

Ion exchange systems offer higher selectivity for certain PFAS compounds and can provide a smaller physical footprint, making them good choices for facilities with limited space.

High-pressure membrane treatments, such as reverse osmosis, deliver high removal efficiency but may require greater energy input.

Choosing the right technology requires a balance between treatment performance, infrastructure, and cost. In many cases, a phased or hybrid solution empowers municipalities to meet current standards while maintaining flexibility for future regulatory changes.

2. Design Modular Facilities

Modular facility design has become a valuable way to manage uncertainty and cost control. These systems empower municipalities to implement mitigation in phases, scaling capacity as regulations tighten or as community needs grow. This will ultimately reduce upfront capital expenditures and permits expansion flexibility.

Modularity supports operational flexibility. Systems can be reconfigured with minimal disruption to existing treatment processes, helping facilities maintain continuity of service.

3. Embrace "Clean" Building Materials

PFAS challenges go far beyond water treatment systems and can be found in the built environment. Certain coatings, sealants, insulation products, and other construction materials may contain these compounds and could contribute to environmental exposure during construction or renovation activities. 

Carefully researching alternatives to PFAS containing materials could mitigate exposure risk and align with broader sustainability and public health goals. 

Thoughtful material choices reinforce a holistic approach to PFAS mitigation; one that addresses both treatment performance and environmental responsibility.

4. Consider Real-World Application & Costs

Across the country, municipalities are successfully addressing PFAS contamination with innovative treatment technologies, modular design, and strategic planning. The early investment in scalable systems has allowed many communities to achieve compliance goals while avoiding overdesign and unnecessary expense.

These PFAS remediation projects often utilize state and federal funding to offset capital costs and support implementation.

Securing funding often depends on a clear and well– developed strategy: project readiness, clear phasing, and viability. Municipalities that can show PFAS mitigation as integrated into their broader infrastructure and resilience goals will be much better positioned to access financial resources.

Moving Forward with Confidence 

There is no doubt that PFAS compliance comes with a set of undeniable challenges. However, it also offers communities the opportunity to modernize infrastructure, strengthen public health protections, and build long-term resilience.

By combining regulatory insight, effective treatment strategies, flexible facility design, and integrated partnerships, communities can move beyond reactive compliance toward purposeful, sustainable solutions. With the right planning and expertise, today's PFAS challenges can become a catalyst for stronger, more livable communities tomorrow.

PREPARING FOR PFAS COMPLIANCE BEFORE DEADLINES HIT?

With federal and state standards tightening, communities that plan ahead are better positioned to secure funding and avoid costly retrofits. Our in-house experts partner with public works leaders to deliver compliance-ready, adaptable infrastructure solutions.