On January 19, the Sustainability and Biosolids Committee and the Government Affairs Committee hosted a webinar on Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), featuring Ms. Rashi Gupta (Carollo), Dr. Jason Conder (Geosyntec Consultants), and Mr. Frank Dick (City of Vancouver). The webinar addressed multiple topics including updates on the state-of-the-art of PFAS, current management practices, risk assessment, and legislation for PFAS in biosolids. Thank you to all our speakers for providing such important and timely information! If you missed the webinar, you can watch a recording of it here. 

Rashi addressed PFAS fundamentals sources, an update on the PFAS roadmap from the EPA, health advisory levels, current treatment technologies for biosolids, implications of PFAS presence in biosolids management, and recommendations for facilities to adapt to the rapidly changing regulations.  

Jason addressed the ongoing biosolids management practices in the U.S., PFAS health effects, toxicology, and risk assessment that included new fish consumption advisory levels, as well as examples of source control strategies implemented by various states in the U.S. to reduce the concentration of PFAS in biosolids. 

Finally, Frank summarized some of the regulatory updates for PFAS in the Pacific Northwest Region that encompassed the implementation of EPA Memo NPDES permits in Washington (WA), Oregon (OR), and Idaho (ID); an overview of WA PFAS Chemical Action Plan (CAP); an overview of the OR Association of Clean Water Agency (ACWA) white paper; and legislative actions in WA and OR for biosolids and cosmetics.