Mueller Water offers advanced systems designed to tackle the complex challenge of removing PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) and other emerging contaminants from water. As awareness and regulation around these persistent pollutants grow, our solutions provide effective and reliable treatment, ensuring your water supply meets the highest safety and compliance standards. Our systems come complete with all necessary piping, valves, fittings, and automatic controls, offering a turnkey solution for comprehensive water purification.
How it Works
Our PFAS and emerging contaminant removal systems utilize a combination of proven technologies to effectively capture and eliminate these harmful substances from water:
Granular Activated Carbon (GAC): GAC is highly effective at adsorbing PFAS compounds, capturing them within its porous structure and preventing them from entering the water supply.
Ion Exchange Resins: Specialized resins are used to target and remove specific PFAS compounds, as well as other emerging contaminants, through a selective ion exchange process.
Reverse Osmosis (RO): RO membranes provide a physical barrier to PFAS, effectively filtering out even the smallest of these persistent pollutants along with other contaminants.
Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP): AOP involves the generation of hydroxyl radicals that break down PFAS and other emerging contaminants into less harmful substances.
Each of these technologies can be customized and combined to create a tailored solution that meets your specific water treatment needs.
Comprehensive Contaminant Removal: Effectively eliminates PFAS and other emerging contaminants, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
Versatile Technology: Customizable systems utilizing GAC, ion exchange, RO, and AOP to address a wide range of contaminants.
Reliable Performance: Consistently delivers safe, high-quality water, protecting both health and the environment.
Regulatory Compliance: Helps you meet current and future regulatory requirements for PFAS and other emerging contaminants.
Low Operational Costs: Designed for efficiency, reducing energy consumption and maintenance needs over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PFAS and why is it a concern?
PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) are a family of thousands of synthetic chemicals used in non-stick coatings, firefighting foams, and water-repellent fabrics. They are called "forever chemicals" because they don't break down in the environment or the human body. Long-term exposure has been linked to cancer, hormonal disruption, and immune system impairment, which is why the EPA introduced enforceable drinking water standards in 2024.
How are PFAS removed from water?
The four most effective technologies are Granular Activated Carbon (GAC), which adsorbs PFAS in its porous structure; Ion Exchange Resins, which capture specific PFAS compounds through selective resin chemistry; Reverse Osmosis (RO) membranes, which provide a physical barrier to even the smallest PFAS molecules; and Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP), which use hydroxyl radicals to break PFAS down into less harmful substances. Mueller Water typically combines two or more of these approaches in a single system.
Which PFAS treatment method is best for my facility?
It depends on PFAS concentrations, water chemistry, flow rate, and regulatory targets. GAC is cost-effective for moderate concentrations and broad PFAS profiles. Ion exchange achieves the lowest residual levels for short-chain PFAS like PFBA and PFBS that GAC struggles with. RO is ideal where multiple contaminants beyond PFAS need to be addressed simultaneously. AOP fits applications that need actual destruction of PFAS rather than concentration into a spent media. Most facilities benefit from a multi-stage approach.
Are PFAS regulations going to get stricter?
Yes. The EPA finalized national drinking water standards in 2024 with maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) of 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS, and Hazard Indexes covering several other PFAS compounds. State regulations in many areas are already tighter. Facilities that operate close to these limits should plan for additional treatment capacity or finer-tuned media to maintain compliance.
How long does PFAS treatment media last before changeout?
GAC typically lasts 6 months to 2+ years between changeouts, depending on PFAS concentrations and competing organic load. Ion exchange resins can last 1–3+ years for selective PFAS resins. RO membranes last 3–5 years with proper pretreatment. Mueller Water includes media-life monitoring and replacement scheduling as part of our service program for these systems.