Well No. 1 PFAS Study

In 2020, the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) sampled finished water from five of the City of Westminster’s drinking water treatment plants for the 18 PFAS analytes included in EPA Method 537.1. Results from Well No. 1 were above the EPA health advisory of 70 ppt for Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) either separately or in combination. MDE recommended that the client keep Well No. 1 offline until a treatment plan is in place. The current treatment process at Well No. 1 includes disinfection, ion exchange (IX) for nitrate removal in approximately half of the flow, and radon removal by air stripping. 

We characterized the water at multiple locations in the treatment process, developed treatment alternatives, performed treatability testing, and developed a pilot process for the client  

In developing options for the site, the impacts of co-contaminants (radon and nitrate) and future potential PFAS limits were considered, to maximize operational flexibility and minimize treatment costs. This included the impact of radon on media disposal, evaluating granular activated carbon (GAC) and evaluating IX resins that can treat for PFAS and nitrate. Treatability was performed in GHD’s testing lab, with third party sample analysis. 

Samples were evaluated using an EPA modified Method 537.1 to test for 28 long and short chain PFAS, using a 10 ppt breakthrough limit in anticipation of future state regulations. A 360 video of the existing treatment process was used to facilitate recommendations on piping modifications and minimize costs to the client. The pilot will be performed with multiple breakthrough limits to allow the client the ability to treat to a higher limit to maximize media life, while having the confidence that they can meet lower limits as new regulations are put in place. 

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