RIVM researched the options for differentiating between PFAS (Per- en polyfluoralkylstoffen ) in household wand industrial wastewater. The aim of this study was to explore whether this method is suitable for discovering as yet unknown industrial sources by measuring PFAS levels in wastewater at water treatment plants. The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) wants to use the findings to gain more insight into industrial PFAS emissions.
RIVM examined untreated wastewater from two groups of wastewater treatment plants in the Netherlands. The first group consisted of 11 plants that primarily collect and treat wastewater from households. The second group consisted of 6 plants that treat relatively high percentages of wastewater from industrial sources, which could potentially contain unknown sources of PFAS (Per- en polyfluoralkylstoffen ).
The study showed that PFAS monitoring in untreated wastewater can offer insights into industrial discharges (including as yet unknown sources). The untreated wastewater from plants that primarily treat household wastewater contained a relatively steady pattern of PFAS. With a few exceptions, the pattern for each wastewater treatment plants also remained fairly constant over time. A number of wastewater treatment plants displayed a deviating pattern. This suggests the presence of additional PFAS sources and offers avenues for further source-based studies.
Read more in the report 'PFAS levels in wastewater treatment plants'.