PFAS Management, Investigation, and Treatment Services

Our expert teams are pioneering solutions to one of the most complex environmental challenges of our era.

Global network Our expertise Projects PFAS solutions Applied R&D FAQ Insights

We have been at the forefront of addressing the impacts of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) for many years. We continue to lead the way, supporting our clients to overcome the challenges that PFAS present with practical, innovative approaches and advanced destructive remediation technologies.

A globally connected team, experienced in all market sectors

Our multidisciplinary teams of specialists offer deep knowledge of PFAS, combined with hands-on experience of addressing them across a range of industries, including government, aviation, manufacturing, waste management, water and wastewater utilities, power generation, oil and gas, and mining.

Our PFAS Practice Area Network is an unparalleled resource, drawing together more than 700 subject matter experts around the world to collaborate and share best practices and insights into the latest scientific and regulatory developments.

Together, we bring a global perspective, world-leading innovation and our collective brilliance to solve our clients’ most difficult PFAS challenges.

PFAS SPECIALISTS

700+

OFFICE LOCATIONS

200+

Proactive and Future Ready

Our team combines practical solutions, innovative ideas and ground-breaking technologies to support clients across the asset life cycle, in alignment with their goals and risk tolerance.

Strategic planning

Monitoring legislation
PFAS program development
Corporate training
Policy studies
Desktop site portfolio screening
Product stewardship
Due diligence
Merger and acquisition strategy
Litigation support

Permitting support

Site and portfolio screening
Permitting and compliance
Soil and groundwater management
Wastewater, industrial effluents and leachate management
Treatment
Disposal
Beneficial reuse evaluation

Mitigation management

Vulnerability assessments
Use/alternatives evaluation
Product (AFFF) transition planning, cleaning and replacement
Supply chain evaluation
Air and water modelling
EHS/industrial hygiene
Climate risk evaluation for PFAS-contaminated sites

Remediation and clean-up

Investigation
Source evaluations
Plume stability assessment (Groundwater Plume Analytics®)
Risk assessment/toxicology
Remediation and treatment
Stormwater management
Waste disposal
Interim actions
Asset retirement

Explore our innovative projects, featuring ground-breaking technologies and efficient solutions

Other challenges that we have overcome

We are applying innovation and groundbreaking research to develop practical, efficient solutions for PFAS testing, assessment and treatment.

United States

Planning clean sustainable solutions for PFAS impacted drinking water

An $850 million settlement was reached in the first-ever Natural Resource Damage Claim for PFAS in the United States.

United Kingdom

Investigating PFAS and forever chemicals presence at a UK airport

We supported a UK airport in their environmental permit renewal, investigating PFAS presence and reducing it in surface water discharges.

Australia

Investigating and Remediating a PFAS Spill

This case study details the environmental studies conducted following the spill of a highly concentrated foaming liquid containing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) that was accidentally released into an ephemeral creek after entering a stormwater drain.

Canada

Helping Protect the Public and Environment from PFAS Impacts on a Military Base

This project illustrates several success factors in PFAS analysis and mitigation, particularly the value of having a three-dimensional conceptual site model to determine the pathways and receptors, and to provide information for choosing mitigation methods.

Canada

Understanding Site Details Key to Effective PFAS Risk Management

Quantitative Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment (Site Specific Risk Assessment or SSRA) to assess the potential risk of PFAS in the environment.

Alpena - Michigan - USA

Leveraging nature to help solve the PFAS puzzle in groundwater

Nature-based solutions are succeeding against PFAS contamination at the town of Alpena in the US state of Michigan – where site-specific constraints meant that traditional methods such as pump-and-treat of contaminated water were impractical.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States

Pease Air Force Base PFAS

Protecting public health through innovative groundwater treatment.

North America

PFAS Remediation at Multiple Locations at a North American Airport

Characterizing and remediating the PFAS impacts associated with the historical and current firefighting training facilities.

California, USA

Combating the Slippery Nature of PFAS while Testing at California Landfill

California regulatory agency, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), wanted to get a better understanding of PFAS contamination in the state.

North America

Untangling a Complex PFAS Picture at a Manufacturing Facility

PFAS air emissions have led to investigations of soil, groundwater, stormwater, surface water sediment, and fish tissue at an active manufacturing facility in North America.

North America

Airport PFAS Survey: Exploring New Human and Environmental Risk Factors

Desktop screening and ranking of approx.100 airports to prioritize future PFAS investigations related to impacts from Firefighting Training Areas.

Solutions for every project stage

We provide optimized solutions to address PFAS efficiently, from strategic planning and portfolio management, to investigation, risk management and remediation.

Optimized strategic planning

PFAS product compliance regulations and pollution prevention and clean-up requirements are becoming more stringent across the globe. Our suite of tools helps clients to identify, prioritize and address PFAS within their supply chains and portfolios.

PFAS Use Catalog

A database of known PFAS associations with industries, processes and products to evaluate potential PFAS within supply chains and the likelihood of legacy environmental releases at subject sites and nearby facilities.

Portfolio Screening and Prioritization

We have refined a multi-stage desktop protocol that combines the likelihood of a historic PFAS release with potential receptor impacts. The protocol is risk-based and customizable and can be used to identify and rank reputational risks and financial liabilities.

Product compliance and manufacturing vulnerability solutions

Our vulnerability services help clients respond to increasing public pressure and regulatory scrutiny, supporting them to eliminate PFAS through systematic, documented supply chain and operations assessments. PFAS and PFAS byproducts are identified and tracked through occupational exposure points and waste streams, and action plans to eliminate PFAS risk are developed in alignment with client goals.

Source identification and investigation

Developing conceptual models for PFAS contaminated sites is challenging due to diverse chemistries, multiple sources and complex fate and transport mechanisms. Our suite of field investigation and data interpretation tools can be used to define anthropogenic background, help identify sources, differentiate plumes and assess stability.

Advanced analytical and sampling

We are skilled at leveraging targeted and non-targeted analytical methods and advanced sampling techniques, including passive samplers and lysimeters, to gather the necessary information to build a complete picture of PFAS impacts.

Vapor Phase PFAS

Volatilization of short-chain and neutral PFAS, such as fluorotelomer alcohols, is proving to be a major PFAS transport pathway that is rapidly gaining regulatory attention. Our team brings expert knowledge and extensive experience of assessing and mitigating the PFAS vapour risks associated with landfills, residential and workplace vapour intrusion, and occupational exposure.

Automated and machine learning tools

PFAS testing programs generate large quantities of data, making robust data interpretation challenging and time consuming. We are using machine learning to simplify this process, yielding new insights into the challenges that PFAS present, and the potential solutions.

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Groundwater Plume Analytics®

Our Groundwater Plume Analytics® tools provide clients with more accurate ways to assess risks and legacy impacts by mining existing data, developing solutions that are cost-effective and resilient, and presenting information in a way that is compelling and easy to understand.

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Remediation and treatment

“Proven” PFAS remediation approaches are primarily limited to ex-situ filtering technologies, such as GAC, resins and foam fractionation, and in-situ stabilization. Our team has extensive experience of designing, constructing and operating these solutions.

We are also actively involved in developing more advanced approaches to remediation, including destructive and nature-based solutions that are now being commercialized.

Destructive treatment technologies

WSP has focused on the advancement of several PFAS treatment technologies with specific focus on destructive solutions to end PFAS cycling through the environment, lower costs and reduce liabilities. These include:

Electro-oxidation
Super critical water oxidation: We partnered with a supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) technology provider to verify and validate the onsite destruction and mineralization of PFAS remediation wastes, such as spent PFAS-laden ion exchange resin or GAC.
Plasma: Low-temperature plasma destruction of PFAS in high-concentration solutions. PFAS rise to the surface of the reactor vessels, assisted by argon gas diffusers, and are fully destroyed in a matter of hours.

Nature-based solutions

We are exploring the potential of nature-based solutions to remediate PFAS-contaminated sites, to address contexts where traditional methods are impractical, and provide co-benefits to people and nature.

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Separation and Stabilization Technologies

Our team designed, operated and maintained some of the first PFAS treatment systems, and we have been developing and demonstrating separation, stabilization and destruction technologies since 2015, including:

WSP treatability study labs
WSP treatment trailers
Full scale treatment systems

From small to large flows, from in-situ to ex-situ, from conventional to innovative technologies, we provide experience-based, scientifically advanced, economically efficient solutions tailored to each site.

Risk management

From strategic planning to conceptual model development to remediation, all of our PFAS services are focused on identifying, quantifying and resolving risk for our clients. We have also developed specific risk management and tools.

Risk Assessment

WSP's risk assessors conduct multi-pathway PFAS risk assessments, specialize in dietary exposure evaluations, and routinely develop toxicology reviews and assessments.

PFAS Climate Risk Tool

WSP has developed a tool to assess the impact of climate change on PFAS contaminated sites for potential remedial options or treatment technologies already in operation. The tool helps with responsible and cost-effective decision-making, strategic planning, and risk management at the site and/or portfolio level. Climate change impacts specifically addressed by the tool include:

Temperature
Snow cover
Precipitation / storm events
Change in permafrost
Flora shift
Fauna shift
High winds
Erosion
Drought
Wildfires
Sea level rise / Artic Sea level change

Seeking effective solutions for your PFAS challenges?

Contact our global experts to address your environmental needs with innovative strategies.

Applied R&D – advancing the latest solutions

We are at the forefront of PFAS management. Our teams are committed to pioneering practical, innovative solutions supported by breakthrough technologies, and collaborate closely with academic and technology partners to bring promising new ideas to market.

Frequently asked question

PFAS raise complex questions about health, the environment, and how best to manage them. Here are answers to some of the most common ones.

What are PFAS, and why are they called “forever chemicals”?

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic chemicals. Some of them are known for their persistence in the environment and the human body, hence the nickname “forever chemicals.”

Where are PFAS commonly found?

PFAS are found in various industrial processes and products, including several water, oil and stain-resistant materials (non-stick cookware, water-resistant fabrics, food packaging, electronics, etc.), firefighting foams, and several other items. As a result of their widespread use, PFAS are present in solid waste, wastewater, biosolids and can be released from areas where firefighting foams are used, industrial facilities and other sites where PFAS-containing materials are used or disposed of.

How do PFAS contaminate drinking water?

PFAS can enter water supplies through releases, leaks and/or discharges from the sources described above.

What health risks are associated with PFAS exposure?

Exposure to certain PFAS has been linked to health issues such as cancer, liver damage, thyroid disease, and developmental effects in infants. Several studies are underway to more accurately quantify risks to exposure to individual PFAS and mixtures.

How can PFAS contamination be detected and measured?

Robust sampling methods implemented by experienced teams are fundamental for collection of reliable PFAS data and avoid pitfalls. Analytical methods include targeted (focused on specific compounds) and non-targeted testing. Field screening methods are also being developed and tested for more rapid decision-making and increased efficiency. Characterization of ambient PFAS concentrations is paramount to be able to assess “true” PFAS impacts.

How are PFAS data interpreted?

Interpreting PFAS data in terms of mass or mass fluxes rather than simply concentrations often leads to more practical approaches for PFAS management. Data analytics is a critical component of a sound PFAS data interpretation due to the number of compounds and complexity of PFAS composition, fate and transport and potential transformation. Machine learning and visualization tools can be leveraged to enhance data interpretation, providing clearer insights into PFAS distribution and sources.

What are the main methods for PFAS remediation, treatment or removal?

Traditional methods like granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration, ion exchange resins, and foam fractionation can separate and remove PFAS from water and wastewater at various levels of efficiency. However, destructive technologies are required to fully break the carbon-fluorine bonds and stop PFAS cycling in the environment. Selecting the right approach depends on site-specific factors, including treatment goals, PFAS composition, total mass or mass flux, operational needs, and costs.

Is it better to destroy PFAS on-site or transport them for treatment or disposal?

It depends on site specific objectives and characteristics. On-site destruction of PFAS can be more efficient in some cases, prevents the risks associated with transporting hazardous materials, and eliminates the liability associated with third-party treatment or disposal.

What are the costs associated with PFAS destruction technologies?

Costs vary depending on the technology, scale, and specific application. While some methods may have higher initial investments, they can offer long-term savings by reducing operational costs and consumables. Destruction technologies are often more cost-effective when PFAS concentrations are higher.