Selecting a PFAS treatment technology vendor involves more than comparing product brochures. Municipal water systems and industrial facility operators are entering multi-year service relationships that carry significant operational, financial, and reputational risk. A structured vendor due diligence process protects your organization before a contract is signed.
Technical Credibility and Performance History
Request a list of reference installations at comparable scale, influent chemistry, and target effluent concentration. Contact at least three references directly and ask about actual versus projected media life, vendor responsiveness to performance shortfalls, and any contract disputes. Published case studies in peer-reviewed journals or AWWA conference proceedings provide additional evidence of technology credibility.
Verify that any performance claims are supported by third-party testing data, not only internal vendor studies. Ask specifically whether media or system components carry NSF/ANSI 61 certification for drinking water contact materials, and whether the treatment technology has been validated under NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 protocols for PFAS removal. Certification status can be confirmed directly on the NSF International website.
Financial Stability and Supply Chain Resilience
Request the vendor’s most recent audited financial statements or, for publicly traded companies, their most recent annual report. Assess revenue concentration risk — vendors whose business is heavily dependent on a single product line or geography are more vulnerable to supply disruptions. Ask whether media or key system components are sourced domestically or from single overseas suppliers.
Inquire about the vendor’s media regeneration or disposal partnerships. If the vendor relies on a third-party regenerator or licensed disposal facility, assess the stability of that relationship. Disruption in the media management supply chain can leave your treatment system without a compliant disposal pathway for spent media, creating a secondary regulatory problem.
Document your due diligence process in writing, including the questions asked and responses received. This record demonstrates that your organization exercised reasonable care in vendor selection, which is relevant if performance problems arise and contract remedies are pursued.