The ABCs Of PFCs

Nick Burns, director of water treatment technology for (the Americas region of) Black & Veatch, discusses the health concerns, current regulatory status, and documented presence of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), also sometimes called perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in drinking water supplies — as determined by sampling under the U.S. EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 3 (UCMR3). Although the EPA has not currently issued any regulations regarding PFCs in drinking water, the agency has published provisional health advisories for two PFCs: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS).

Burns’ also shares insight on treatment and removal options, which include granular activated carbon, ion exchange, and reverse osmosis or nanofiltration. Listen to the Water Talk interview below.