Due to the proliferation of chemicals in the environment, special facilities must be set up to clean and treat water. Unfortunately, PFAS have been identified in a great many number of environments.
At Ship & Shore Environmental we are working on providing the best PFAS removal services around by blending our years of experience in pollution abatement systems with the latest techniques for remediation and removal.
What are PFAS?
PFAS are Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a group of man-made chemicals including PFOA, PFOS, and many other chemicals. These chemicals are found in a substantial number of everyday items, from food wrappers to fire-fighting foams. After extensive research and analysis, both PFOA and PFOS have been found in the environment. In water sources, rivers, lakes, as well as in the wildlife and humans worldwide.
The chemical compounds in PFAS do not break down easily. They can take several decades to decay, and this is causing many problems. To protect the health and safety of all US citizens as well as the surrounding environment, the EPA (The Environmental Protection Agency) has indicated that safe levels of PFOA and PFOS in drinking water must not exceed 70 parts per trillion. This means that there is a lot of work to do.
PFAS Remediation Services
At the present time, three basic technologies exist to remove PFAS from the water supply.
Granulated Activated Carbon
This is the most common method for treating affected water suppliers. In the right conditions, it can provide the steady and adequate removal of PFAS in the water, bringing them down to the desired level under the EPA regulation. Using this sort of carbons-based technology for PFAS, generally results in a much quicker turnaround than it would be for other types of contaminants. Activated carbon can also be recycled as it is seen as non-hazardous waste. Meaning that although the initial cost may be high, you can easily dispose of waste.
Non-Regenerating Synthetic Resins
If a particular water supply needs more stringent treatment requirements, then synthetic resins are being used over and over the carbon treatment process. By using a combination method, carbon the primary cleaning sources followed by treatment with resins as a polishing bed, you are getting a higher quality water cleaning solution of PFAS Remediation. This has the effect of extending the life of carbon usage and limits the amount utilized overall. Resin, however, is seen as hazardous and therefore requires a more delicate disposal process.
Regenerating Synthetic Resins
This is a relatively new technology that means that a synthetic reason can be regenerated while still on-site. This PFAS engineering technology can make the resin more economical in the long run. But long-term use of such technology has not been attempted yet as it is still in its infancy., which means the cost-benefit is merely hypothetical. Additionally, at the moment, it is quite expensive to use the regeneration technology as it requires installation. As time goes on, the efficacy of such a technology will be analyzed and the result determined.
