Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of chemicals commonly known as “forever chemicals.” Due to the unique nature of these chemicals, they have been widely used for the past 50 years. The fate and transport of PFAS through the sewer and wastewater systems is important because millions of miles of sewer mains and half as many miles of private sewer laterals are buried across the United States. Storm and wastewater sewers transport liquids to the treatment location. After treatment, wastewater is discharged to surface water, and sludge from the treatment process is disposed of in various ways, including land application in agricultural fields as biosolids. Using a geospatial screening model developed by the authors, specific PFAS detections in geographic areas in Kentucky were identified. A list of prominent PFAS constituents was developed to describe contamination. A desktop review of pre-treatment permits identified industrial discharges that may be associated with PFAS hot spots. Preliminary results show considerable PFAS contamination can be tracked to some point sources and provides insights about treatment schemes. Given the growing concerns and evolving regulations about PFAS, this research provides a new perspective to understanding how sewer and wastewater systems contribute to the contamination and transport of PFAS in the environment.
