PFAS · Sources in the Sewershed
How Does Firefighting Foam Bring PFAS Into Sewers?
Some aqueous film-forming foams, called AFFF, have contained PFAS. Past use can leave PFAS at airports, fire-training areas, military sites, fuel terminals, and emergency scenes. It may remain in soil, groundwater, sumps, storm drains, or sewers.
An old release may become a steady wastewater source. This can happen when groundwater enters a sewer. It can also happen when polluted water is pumped to the sewer. A new release may arrive as a short, strong slug. The utility should know where foam was used and training took place. It should also know when notice is required before accepting the water.
Operators should never sample unknown foam or a spill without an approved safety and sampling plan. Fire scenes can include fuels, combustion products, unstable structures, and other hazards beyond PFAS.
Key point: Historical foam use can matter long after the visible foam is gone.
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PFAS in Wastewater: Sources, Sampling, Source Control, and Residuals
This page comes from the course. It covers PFAS sources in the sewershed, how PFAS moves through a treatment plant, sampling and lab methods, source control, treatment residuals and biosolids, one step at a time, with short knowledge checks and a certificate of completion.
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