Testing and Treating the Water

Langan Treats PFAS in Residential Drinking Water

PFAS contamination in private well water is a growing concern, especially for properties located near potential PFAS sources, such as facilities with aqueous film forming foam fire suppression systems. Point-of-entry treatment (POET) systems provide a whole-house water treatment solution that reduces PFAS exposure and risk. Yet this solution comes with its fair share of complications—variations in PFAS concentrations, differences in ambient water quality, a multitude of available treatment options, and physical space limitations.

Langan provided design services and installation oversight for hundreds of POET systems for PFAS treatment in drinking water. The firm mobilized quickly, working with clients, regulators, and other stakeholders to develop and implement effective solutions. These solutions involve a comprehensive approach, including scheduling and coordination with property owners, testing water, communicating findings, determining treatment needs, designing and selecting systems, evaluating system performance, and coordinating monitoring and maintenance.

Several factors contributed to the success of Langan’s comprehensive approach. These include sourcing readily available adsorptive media that can treat a range of PFAS levels, assembling and warehousing PFAS-free treatment equipment, and vetting and selecting qualified installers. Following implementation, system performance is evaluated and monitored via sampling.

With initial post-installation sampling and subsequent monitoring, the team confirmed system effectiveness and implemented modifications and/or maintenance, as appropriate.

Initial post-installation sampling results determined that 99% of the POET systems achieved PFAS target treatment levels.

Langan also leverages its in-house digital solutions team to record and track field activities in real time, present sampling results as they become available, and create shareable platforms that can be used to explore, visualize, and query the data.

This process has enabled the firm to install up to 100 POET systems per month to keep pace with project needs. The team is also attuned to homeowner education and community engagement, which play an integral role in the project’s sustained success.

As PFAS awareness grows, the focus remains on the challenges of treating PFAS in drinking water to low part per trillion targets. However, market-ready, technically sound, and cost-effective technologies are available, and environmental experts are employing them to successfully remove PFAS from drinking water in communities across the country.

Anna Willett has over 20 years of experience providing technical support and project management for the clean-up of contaminants in engineered systems and natural environments using conventional and innovative environmental technologies. She has expertise in PFAS assessment and treatment, chemical and biological processes, water and wastewater treatment, and soil/groundwater remediation.