A Practical Framework For Tackling Contaminants Of Emerging Concern

As new chemicals from everyday products enter municipal water systems, contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are becoming a growing challenge for utilities. In this episode of the Water Online Show: On Location from WEFTEC 2025, CDM Smith environmental engineer Javier Locsin explains why substances such as PFAS, microplastics, and tire wear compounds are demanding more attention from water resource recovery facilities.

With thousands of potential contaminants and limited testing capabilities, utilities often struggle to decide what to monitor. Locsin discusses how a structured, step-by-step framework can help utilities build a comprehensive list of potential CECs and narrow it down based on criteria such as health impacts, likelihood of occurrence, and local industry influences.