Veolia, the largest private water services operator in the United States, has achieved a significant milestone in its treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in American drinking water.
More than 30 sites are now reporting undetectable levels of regulated PFAS chemicals, demonstrating Veolia’s advanced efforts. This includes the installation of new treatment at 17 drinking water wells in New York, with additional projects underway in four states as Veolia continues to address PFAS contamination across the country.
PFAS contamination in drinking water poses a critical challenge due to its widespread presence and persistence. The U.S. has been at the forefront of combating this issue, with regulations in place in several states and the imminent introduction of the first mandatory rules by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requiring treatment of certain PFAS in drinking water systems.
Drawing on its global experience, Veolia can treat regulated PFAS at scale using proven systems based on expertise in technologies such as activated carbon or nanofiltration.
In the U.S., Veolia, as a leading regulated utility and operator of municipal water systems, has swiftly provided effective solutions for communities affected by PFAS contamination.
To date, Veolia has treated over 2.1 billion gallons of drinking water in the country, utilizing more than 1 million pounds of granular activated carbon and other materials to reduce PFAS and other contaminants below regulatory thresholds.
Effective treatment is crucial in separating PFAS from drinking water, and Veolia has conducted nearly 10,000 water sample analyses in the U.S. over the past five years to determine and implement the best treatment options across various source water chemistries, physical site constraints, and equipment lifecycle costs.
Veolia aims to leverage its operational expertise acquired in the United States and its research capacities worldwide to combat PFAS pollution and other micropollutants, offering efficient and affordable solutions at scale in all relevant geographies where the regulatory framework has moved towards a proactive approach to dealing with PFAS.
“The fight against PFAS pollution is a concrete example of Veolia delivering innovative ecological solutions to the challenge of depollution. In the United States, where regulations have evolved more rapidly than in Europe, we have more than 50 additional projects at various stages to meet the new standards. With our worldwide expertise in cutting-edge water treatment technologies, the United States represents a land of solutions from which all our geographies could benefit,” said Estelle Brachlianoff, Veolia CEO.
Fred Van Heems, President and Chief Executive Officer of Veolia North America, underscored Veolia’s leadership in providing solutions to address environmental challenges, including regulated PFAS contaminants in water.
In New York, Veolia has worked closely with local authorities to launch a robust PFAS management plan for drinking water wells, anticipating the standards developed by New York State and the EPA for these chemicals.
Veolia has also installed treatment systems for drinking water wells in neighboring New Jersey and Pennsylvania, demonstrating its unique ability to address the complex task of dealing with PFAS in drinking water.
Source :Veolia
