The Water Research Foundation PFAS Research

© 2020 The Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this presentation may be copied, reproduced, or otherwise utilized without permission.

The Water Research Foundation Research Update

Christobel Ferguson, Ph.D., CIOASDWA Webcast

19th Nov 2020

© 2020 The Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 2

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To create the definitive research organization to advance the science of all things water to better meet the evolving needs of subscribers and the water sector.


Research Priority ProgramResearch Areas


PFAS Research Area ObjectivesManagement, analysis, removal, fate and transport of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water

• Analyze emerging and unidentified PFAS and assess effectiveness of analytical methods

• Evaluate vulnerability of waters to PFAS and identify sources and hotspots

• Understand behavior, fate, and transport of PFAS in treatment and environment

• Evaluate treatment for removing PFAS and reliability of technologies

• Develop risk communication strategies • Evaluate management strategies for PFAS


State of the Science paper & JAWWA paper

https://www.waterrf.org/sites/default/files/file/2020-05/TalkingtoCustomersCommunitiesAboutPFAS_JAWWA_0.pdf


Objectives: The primary goal of this research was to develop a practical high-efficiency chemical treatment strategy for PFOS in water. This research investigated advanced oxidation integrated with chemical reductionStatus: Draft Final Report


PFAS Treatment Alternatives

• Established technologies = GAC, IX, membranes

• Emerging = Electrochemical, UV-AO/RP, NTP, innovative sorbents like cyclodextrins

Evaluation and Life Cycle Comparison of Ex-Situ Treatment Technologies for PFAS in Groundwater (WRF #5011, w/ DoD)

• Developing a comprehensive life cycle cost assessment framework, treatment efficiency database, and treatment technology decision support tool

Investigation of Treatment Alternatives for Short-chain PFASs (WRF #4913)

• Detlef Knappe, NCSU

• Assessed the removal capacity of GAC and IX for over 20 PFAS in a wide variety of matrices

• Finalizing RSSCT protocols to predict full-scale GAC and IX performance

• Completed three pilot-scale studies involving head-to-head GAC/IX comparisons


Project 5011: Evaluation and Life Cycle Comparison of Ex-Situ Treatment Technologies for PFASs in Groundwater

Status: Funded by DOD; Ongoing


Objectives: Systematically investigate short-chain PFAS removal by readily implementable treatment processes—and to a more limited extent, innovative techniques—in a wide range of background water matrices (groundwater, surface water, treated wastewater) at multiple scales (bench, pilot, full)

Status: Ongoing


Project 5082: Investigation of Alternative Management Strategies to Prevent PFAS from Entering Drinking Water Supplies and WastewaterRFP: Closed 10/15/2020

Objectives:• Summarize and provide methodologies to identify potential point and nonpoint sources in the

watershed and sewershed

• Investigate categories of nonpoint sources, such as PFAS-containing products commonly used in commercial, institutional, and other sectors

• Summarize appropriate applications of effective pre-treatment and mitigation measures, such as best management practices (BMPs), permitting at point sources, and potential upstream regulatory and legislative measures for nonpoint sources.

• Summarize impacts of wastewater effluent PFAS on drinking water utilities.

• Develop a roadmap of multiple strategies to mitigate PFAS prior to entry into drinking water treatment plants and water resource recovery facilities.


WRF 5031: Occurrence of PFAS Compounds in US Wastewater Treatment Plants

Datasets from 40 Water Resource Recovery Facilities at 34 utilitiesObjectives: Provide utilities with a comprehensive, methodologically consistent dataset regarding PFAS occurrence , fate, and mass distribution in WRRFs

• Quantify occurrence of a wide range of PFAS in solid and liquid streams

• Apply statistical tools to identify geographical or seasonable variables that impact PFAS occurrence

• Assess PFAS phase behavior through treatment, including PFAA precursor transformation

• Develop guidelines for sampling and mitigation/management strategies specific to WRRF unit processes


Objectives: Assess poly- and perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) release from finished biosolids. Specifically, this release will be examined as a function of PFAS loading in the finished biosolids, the post-digestion processing of the biosolids, and the age of the biosolids (freshly produced vs. field-aged)Status: Ongoing


Project 5002: Determining the Role of Organic Matter Quality on PFAS Leaching from Sewage Sludge and Biosolids

Objectives: The overarching project objective is to understand how solid characteristics and water quality affect PFASs desorption from sewage-derived solids, with the following main sub-objectives:• Evaluate the effect of wastewater treatment plant practices on sludge quality and associated PFAS

leaching.

• Determine how water quality impacts PFASs leaching from wastewater secondary and anaerobically digested sludges.

• Quantify conversion of PFAS precursor compounds to perfluoroalkyl acids during anaerobic digestion.

• Evaluate the effects of biological weathering processes on PFASs leaching from biosolids

• Develop recommendations for wastewater treatment plant operators and biosolids users to minimize contamination from PFASs

Status: Funded by NSF. Project started on February 1, 2019


Newly Funded Unsolicited Research Program Projects

Application of Novel Method to Estimate Total PFAS Content in Water

Objective: To demonstrate Particle-Induced Gamma Ray Emission (PIGE) spectrometry as a more rapid and practical complement to conventional, mass spectrometry-based analytical methods to screen for the occurrence of PFAS in surface water, recycled water, and groundwater

Microwave Regeneration of PFAS-Exhausted Granular Activated Carbons

Objective: To investigate the microwave regeneration of granular activated carbon exhausted by PFAS


Source Water Protection

Monitoring and Early Warning

Reservoir Management

and Treatment

In-Plant Treatment

Outreach and Communication

• Physical• Chemical• biological

parameters

• Land management

• Nutrient minimization

• Aeration• Mixing• Nutrient

removal• Treatment

• Chlorine• Ozone• KMnO4• Activated

carbon

• Communication Toolkit

Cyanobacterial Blooms and Cyanotoxins


Project 4647: Evaluation and Optimization of Microcystin Analytical Methods

• Critical review of biological and chemical analytical methods, identified strengths and limitations of each

• ADDA-ELISA assay – inexpensive, fast, concerns with sensitivity and variability at low concentration

• Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) - more expensive and technical method, lower detection limit

• Sources of variability were investigated and recommendations to minimize this variability were developed

• Recommendations in Executive Summary (public)


Project 4692: Utility Guidance Manual for the Management of Intracellular Cyanotoxins• Presents context about intra- and extracellular toxins

and summarizes guidance and strategies:A. Switch sourcesB. Remove intact cells in the WTPC. Release and treat (see figure)

• Many utilities don’t have flexibility to change sources or eliminate pre-filter oxidation

• Provides critical CTs to overcome background demand, cell lysing, and oxidation of toxins

₋ Partial cell damage is a risk, as these cells may be retained on downstream filter surface and continue to release toxins or other metabolites


1. Understand the Challenges of Cyanotoxin Communication• HALs, ages, complexity, triggers

2. Address Internal Management Questions• Collaboration to determine when, to

whom, and what to say3. Communicate Proactively with the

Community• Create effective outreach plan

4. Select, Modify, and Deliver Effective Message Products• Sample products in 10 languages

Project 4697: 4 Steps to Effective Cyanotoxin Communications: A Risk Communications Toolkit


Cyanotoxins Ongoing Research

• Developing Guidance for Assessment and Evaluation of Harmful Algal Blooms and Implementation of Control Strategies in Source Water (#4912)

• Utility Response to Cyanobacterial/Cyanotoxin Event: Case Studies and Lessons Learned (#4914)

– Developing web decision tool CyanoGuide

• New RFP 5080 Assessment of Vulnerability of Source Waters to Toxic Cyanobacterial Outbreaks

• Refinement and Standardization of Cyanotoxin Analytical Techniques for Drinking Water (# 4716, building on previous project)


Disinfection By-products – the challenges

• Current DBP regulations were based on toxicological studies suggesting an association between exposure to THMs and bladder cancer

• Epidemiological studies show no evidence of association between currently regulated DBPs and urinary bladder cancer

• Toxicological data indicate that emerging DBPs are more cytotoxic and/or genotoxic than currently regulated DBPs (THMs and HAA5)


DBP - Research Area Objectives

• Develop a better understanding of and identify the factors that impact the formation of emerging DBPs during water treatment processes

• Identify sources of bromide, iodide, dissolved organic nitrogen and develop cost effective removal strategies

• Develop control strategies that minimize the formation of regulated DBPs while preventing the formation of non-regulated DBPs

• Provide guidance to utilities to comply with regulations while minimizing unintended consequences


Significant Findings/Milestones

Occurrence Survey of Bromide and Iodide in Water

Supplies (4711)

The Impact of Pre-Chlorination and GAC

Treatment on DBP Formation and Overall Toxicity in Drinking Water (4916)

Precursors and Control of Haloacetonitriles (5053)

Funded Projects to date


WRF Lead and Copper Research since late 1980’s

~$20 million value

>50 LCR Projects


Lead and Copper Management Research Area: Projects

• Project 4713: Full Lead Service Line Replacement Guidance

• Project 4910: Evaluating Key Factors that Affect the Accumulation and Release of Lead from Galvanized Pipes

• Project 5032: Analysis of Corrosion Control Treatment for Lead and Copper Control

• Project 5081: Guidance for using Pipe Loops to Inform Lead and Copper Corrosion Control Treatment Decisions – RFP just closed


Project 4713: Full Lead Service Line Replacement Guidance

• Objective: To provide guidance and information regarding recommended practices before, during, and after a replacement in order to reduce lead exposure.

• Final Report: October 2020• Key findings: This project evaluated two distinct high velocity flushing

(HVF) protocols that can be used at household taps after implementing a full lead service line replacement. Results showed that both flushing protocols were effective and should be implemented to further reduce lead levels following a full lead service line replacement.


• Membership of 26 national organizations• Replacement practices, preparing an inventory,

communication resources, policies and more• www.lslr-collaborative.org

http://www.lslr-collaborative.org/


Water Quality Impact after Prolonged Building Shutdown• Building water quality degradation is a silent but serious issue when water is not

used, or water use is significantly reduced

– Disinfectant in the water dissipated – Microorganisms (e.g. Legionella pneumophila) grow on pipes, fixtures and tanks

– The protective scale on pipes could have destabilized

– Potentially harmful substances such as disinfection byproducts (DBPs) build up

– Mechanical equipment such as cooling towers, boilers and pumps may not have received any routine maintenance

• How to flush and reopen buildings

• Many guidance for consideration.• WRF hosted a webcast on May 28, 2020: Impact of Prolonged

Shutdown on Buildings from a Water Quality Perspective


WRF Resources – Building WQ and Flushing

Green Building Design: Water Quality Considerations (4383) – Completed

Evaluation of Flushing to Reduce Lead Levels (4584) – Completed

Flushing Guidance for Premise Plumbing and Service Lines to Avoid or Address a Drinking Water Advisory (4572) – Completed

Demonstrating the Effectiveness of Flushing for Reducing the Levels of Legionella in Service Lines and Premise Plumbing (5033) – on-going


WRF Resources – Opportunistic PathogensCustomer Messaging on Opportunistic Pathogens in Plumbing Systems (4664) – Completed

Three series of Legionella Webcasts: Analytical and Monitoring Methods, Technologies for prevention and Mitigation, and Management and Guidance (4726) – Completed

Sampling and Monitoring Strategies for Opportunistic Pathogens in Drinking Water Distribution Systems (4911) – ongoing

Detection Method Development using molecular method (4721), Sampling and monitoring strategies in DWDS (4911) – ongoing


Project 4642: Fostering Innovation Within Water Utilities

• Characterize existing innovation activities from participating organizations

• Define the value of those activities

• Develop a transferable framework for fostering innovation activities

• Assemble a guidance document for water and wastewater utilities


Project 4907: Leading Water Utility Innovation

1) Assess Innovation Culture and Develop Engagement Strategies

2) Identify Collaboration Strategies to Jumpstart Innovation

3) Create an Innovation Strategy Webtool

4) Develop and Demonstrate Innovation Strategy Launch

5) Develop an innovation roadmap with executive champions

• Cash and in-kind contributions from >80 utilities and organizations

• Collaboration with AWWA, WEF, AMWA, NACWA

• Participation from US, Canada, UK, AUS, and Brazil

Objectives


Project 4907: Who Are our Innovation Leaders? 43% of utilities have an Innovation Leader and 43% of utilities have an Innovation Team

50% of Innovation Leaders reside in Executive Management

72% of Innovation Leaders execute this role full-time

© 2020 The Water Research Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this presentation may be copied, reproduced, or otherwise utilized without permission.

Christobel Ferguson, Ph.D., [email protected]

www. WaterRF.org

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The Water Research Foundation PFAS Research