Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have quickly evolved from an emerging concern into a major regulatory, operational, and financial challenge. For municipalities, landfills, and industrial facilities, tightening standards—particularly the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (Environmental Protection Agency) 4-ppt Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFOA and PFOS—are driving urgent action. Utilities and dischargers are now under increasing pressure to meet compliance requirements while managing rising costs and long-term liability.
The Limitations of Traditional PFAS Treatment
These “capture-only” methods concentrate PFAS into secondary waste streams, including:
* Spent carbon
* Exhausted resins
* Brine solutions
* RO reject water
Managing and disposing of these PFAS-laden byproducts introduces significant operational expenses and ongoing risk. Offsite transport, regulatory restrictions on disposal methods (such as incineration or deep-well injection), and long-term environmental liability all compound the challenge.
A New Approach: Destruction, Not Just Removal
At the core of this approach is Powell’s patented iron-based electrocoagulation (EC) technology, enhanced with hydrogen peroxide. This process targets PFAS at the molecular level, breaking the carbon-fluorine bond—the very characteristic that makes PFAS so resistant to degradation.
Unlike traditional systems, EC:
* Removes and destroys PFAS simultaneously
* Eliminates the need for secondary waste handling
* Reduces multiple contaminants in a single process
In addition to PFAS destruction, the system improves overall water quality by reducing suspended solids, turbidity, organic compounds, metals, and pathogens. The result is clarified water suitable for reuse or safe discharge.
Eliminating Secondary Waste and Long-Term Liability
This means:
* No PFAS-laden brine streams
* No spent carbon or resin requiring specialized disposal
* No reliance on offsite destruction methods
By keeping the entire treatment process on-site and eliminating hazardous waste transport, facilities can dramatically reduce both operational complexity and long-term environmental liability.
Proven Performance
Backed by Independent Testing
A Turnkey, Scalable Solution
* Site assessment and feasibility analysis
* Pilot testing
* Engineering and system design
* Fabrication and installation
* Ongoing operational support
Deployment options include Design-Build (DB), Design-Build-Operate (DBO), and DBO-Finance structures, allowing facilities to minimize upfront capital investment while achieving predictable compliance and reduced lifecycle costs.
Take the Next Step
WinWerks invites municipalities, landfill operators, and industrial facilities to share their PFAS challenges. From there, a tailored testing and implementation plan can be developed to meet your site-specific treatment needs and ensure reliable, compliant performance.
