Groundwater Contamination: The Persistent Challenge
PFAS-contaminated groundwater plumes persist for decades due to chemical stability and subsurface sorption dynamics. Remediation is technically challenging and expensive, requiring selection among competing treatment approaches.
Pump-and-Treat Systems
Conventional pump-and-treat extracts contaminated groundwater for above-ground treatment using granular activated carbon or ion exchange resins. While effective for plume containment, pump-and-treat cannot achieve complete aquifer restoration given PFAS desorption kinetics.
In Situ Treatment Approaches
Emerging in situ approaches include permeable reactive barriers using GAC or zeolite, colloidal activated carbon injection, and in situ chemical reduction. Thermal treatment using electrical resistance heating can destroy PFAS in source zones.
Regulatory and Cost Considerations
EPA Superfund PFAS cleanups average $50M–$200M per site for groundwater remediation. Responsible party liability allocation—including AFFF manufacturers and military contractors—remains contentious in ongoing litigation.