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9517

Understanding Emerging Contaminants: PFAS and the Everyday Operator

2.0

Drinking Water and Wastewater

Mary Roland Water Consultant, LLC

Mary Roland

mmcelhinny@yahoo.com

7245995445 Ext.

Partner Website

This training module is not a PFAS regulatory review, rather it is a course tailored for the everyday water operator to provide water plant operators with a practical understanding of Emerging Contaminants with a focus on PFAS. Learning objectives include: 1. Define Emerging Contaminants and how UCMR monitoring assists with the collection of nationwide occurrence of emerging contaminants 2. Define PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) 3. Review the history of PFAS 4. Understand the properties of PFAS compounds, including their persistence, mobility, and bioaccumulation potential. 5. Identify the environmental issues and common sources of PFAS contamination in water, such as industrial discharges, firefighting foams, and landfills. 6. Recognize the potential health risks associated with PFAS exposure through drinking water consumption. 7. Learn about treatment technologies and methods for removing PFAS from water, including activated carbon filtration and ion exchange. 8. Understand the limitations and challenges of PFAS removal in water treatment processes, including the waste stream from PFAS removal technologies. 9. Recognize the regulatory framework governing PFAS in drinking water, including monitoring requirements and permissible levels.

Basic thru Advanced

Overview of Emerging Contaminants 1. Classes of compounds Identified as Emerging Contaminants 2. Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring (UCMR) 3. Contaminant Candidate List 4. UCMR 3 and UCMR5: PFAS Understanding PFAS 5. Overview of PFAS: Definition 6. Historical perspective: Evolution of PFAS and their prevalence in industry 7. Characteristics, and common uses of PFAS 8. Chemical structure and properties of PFAS compounds Environmental and health concerns associated with PFAS exposure 9. Understanding the persistence and bioaccumulation of PFAS in the environment 10. Overview of PFAS remediation technologies: Treatment options and feasibility considerations including the following: Activated Carbon, Ion Exchange, Reverse Osmosis, and Advanced Oxidation 11. Waste Management of PFAS residuals: Physical separation technologies do not destroy PFAS but only remove, the disposal of contaminated absorbents or concentrated brine may pose secondary pollution risks. EPA Regulation

Everyday operator of water and wastewater plants.

Classroom