Water Research on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a complex class of chemicals that historically have been used in industry and consumer products and continue to be widely used today. PFAS can be persistent in the environment and the human body. PFAS contamination of water is a significant issue in the United States and a high priority for the EPA.
EPA research on PFAS in water sources focuses on developing tools for evaluating and managing risks from PFAS, such as the development of analytical methods for measuring occurrence; drinking water and wastewater treatment approaches for removal; residual stream treatment and management; and identifying and characterizing PFAS sources to design treatment management approaches.
EPA has a range of research on PFAS that is not limited to water resources. For more information about EPA PFAS research, please visit Research on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) or EPA’s primary PFAS webpage.
Analytical Methods for PFAS in Drinking Water, Wastewater, and Environmental Samples
EPA’s research includes the development of analytical methods for measuring large groups of PFAS in water and water-related samples. Total organic fluorine (TOF) and total oxidizable precursors (TOP) are analytical methods that help researchers determine whether a PFAS might be present by looking at certain components and precursors of PFAS. Traditional targeted methods require researchers to know what chemicals they are looking for, which can be time consuming and labor intensive. Researchers are building on existing analytical methods, as well as developing non-targeted methods that allow researchers to analyze and characterize thousands of unknown and new PFAS in a sample.
Related Research
Treatment Technologies and Processes for Removing PFAS from Community Drinking Water
EPA’s research on drinking water treatment technologies for PFAS focuses on collecting existing treatment data from the literature and combining it with results from additional laboratory studies on PFAS removal. These studies use a wide variety of technologies, including granular activated carbon, ion exchange, and membranes. EPA researchers evaluate, model, and optimize treatment technologies, including treatment at the water treatment plant and at the point of use (e.g., at the faucet).
EPA’s research is conducted at multiple scales, including benchtop studies in the laboratory, pilot-scale studies both in the laboratory and in the field, and full-scale treatment studies at municipal drinking water treatment plants. EPA research focuses on a range of drinking water system sizes, such as drinking water systems serving large cities with populations of more than 10,000 people, to very small communities with populations of less than 100 people that may use point-of-use or point-of-entry systems. Research focuses on issues that impact systems with technical, financial, and managerial capability limitations.
Related Research
PFAS Sources and Occurrence in Water
Possible PFAS sources in water can include industrial wastewater, landfill leachate, washing facilities, or hospital wastewater. Knowing the sources of PFAS in water resources is critical for developing cost effective approaches to managing PFAS contamination.
EPA’s research focuses on building and improving models to predict the fate and transport of PFAS in water, assess exposure pathways and risks, and identify and characterize PFAS sources and concentrations. Researchers apply these models and analyses to reduce possible exposures to PFAS and improve treatment technologies.
Related Research
- Wastewater Research
- Wastewater Contaminants Research
- Stormwater Management Research
- Alternative Water Sources Research
Disposal and Destruction of PFAS
PFAS is difficult to treat in water and requires effective and economical solutions. This research focuses on the development and advancement of cost-effective, high-efficiency processes to remove PFAS from wastewater, stormwater, industrial and process wastes, leachates, biosolids, and residual streams.
Related Research
- Read the Science Matters story: EPA Researchers Explore Technology to Destroy PFAS
Models, Methods, and Tools
- EPA Science Models and Research Tools (SMaRT) Search
- Drinking Water Treatability Database (TDB)
- Environmental Technologies Design Option Tool (ETDOT)
- Water Treatment Models
- PFAS Analytical Methods Development and Sampling Research
- PFAS methods and guidance for sampling and analyzing water and other environmental media-Technical Brief (pdf)
- PFAS Reviewing Analytical Methods Data for Environmental Samples-Technical Brief (pdf)
Learn More About EPA Research
Related Resources
- Working List of PFAS Chemicals with Research Interest and Ongoing Work by EPA
- Small Drinking Water Systems Research Webinar: PFAS Drinking Water Regulation and Treatment Methods Webinar (Presented on April 30, 2024)
- Small Drinking Water Systems Research Webinar: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Webinar (Presented on August 28, 2018)
- PFAS Research Grants and Funded Projects