15 Feb PFAS in Groundwater: Where Remediation Gets Tough
Reading Time: 2 minutesThe NJDEP continues to evaluate the potential human health and environmental impacts of a variety chemicals they have designated as emerging contaminants. The class of chemicals known as Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, referred to as PFAS, are NJDEP’s primary concern. In March 2019, NJDEP adopted groundwater remediation standards for PFAS compounds that include the regulated compounds Perfluorononanoic Acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS). These cleanup standards, in the parts per trillion, are ridiculously low based on the perceived toxic threat: PFNA’s standard is 13 ng/L or parts per trillion (ppt), PFOA is 14 ppt, and PFOS is 13 ppt. When addressing contaminants in the parts per trillion range, environmental service costs can escalate quickly. So, the best strategy is avoidance.
What Are PFNA, PFOA, and PFOS Compounds?
PFNA, PFOA, and PFOS are man-made chemicals in straight chain formations that contain carbon and fluorine atoms, are soluble in water, highly mobile, and persistent. These characteristics, in addition to their extremely low GWQSs, make them difficult to investigate and remediate.
PFNA, PFOA and PFOS compounds were used in a wide variety of industrial and commercial processes and products, including, but not limited to, electroplating and metal finishing (e.g., chromium plating), vapor/mist suppression, stain repellants, electronics, aerospace, automotive, insecticide/herbicides, adhesives/varnish/paints, as well as coatings for textiles (fabrics, upholstery, and carpeting), paper and non-stick coatings including Teflon. These compounds are highly recalcitrant; they do not degrade naturally.
Additionally, Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF, better known as firefighting foam) is a significant source of PFNA, PFOA, and PFOS contamination in groundwater because of its common use in various fire suppression applications. AFFF contamination has been identified at many locations where firefighting foam was stored and discharged, including, but not limited to, airports, spill/crash sites, firefighter training facilities, refineries, and bulk petroleum storage facilities.
How to Remediate PFAS Compounds
The absolute goal is to avoid the need to remediate PFNA, PFOA, and PFOS compounds in groundwater. Remediation of these compounds is expensive, difficult, and time consuming. Two techniques that will remediate these compounds are sorption by using carbon and sonolysis. Sonolysis utilizes ultrahigh frequency sound to create an altered aquatic environment that breaks apart the PFAS compounds, and it isn’t cheap.
Because of the oppressive difficulty and expense of remediating these compounds, ESA strongly urges affected parties to use one of two strategies whenever possible; the first is to demonstrate that the PFAS compounds were not generated on your property but, instead, are emanating from an adjacent property. The other is to use compliance averaging methods to smooth the analytical results, rendering the overall concentrations nonactionable.
How Can ESA Help?
Because these compounds are difficult to address, ESA will first perform due diligence (i.e., a Phase I and/or Preliminary Assessment) to determine whether or not it is possible that these compounds have been used at the site in the past. If the potential for historic impacts exits, ESA includes these compounds in our Site Investigation (SI) and Remedial Investigation (RI) process. Because these compounds are ubiquitous throughout New Jersey, particularly in urban areas, ESA routinely evaluates regional impacts and the potential for offsite contribution that, if identified, can greatly reduce or eliminate a property owner’s remedial liability and the associated costs.
If it is determined that PFAS compounds are present and the property owner is responsible for remediation of the site, ESA will use our extensive groundwater remediation experience to determine the most cost and time efficient remedial options to achieve regulatory compliance.
For More on PFAS and how it may impact your properties, read NJDEP, EPA, and PFAS Management.