(117q) Deployable Pfas Effluent Treatment Systems

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals that are found in many different consumer, commercial, and industrial products. PFAS compounds are known as “forever chemicals” because they do not naturally degrade over time. Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) are the two most widespread and known toxic PFAS chemical compounds of concern in Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF). AFFF has been used in military practices since the 1960s in combat or in fire training exercises. AFFF is made up of concentrated PFAS’s that do a good job at suppressing fuel fires but can lead to negative environmental and health effects. The Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC) has pioneered new innovative mobile and deployable systems to clean PFAS contaminated water. ERDC has developed two unique PFAS treatment systems, PFAS Effluent Treatment System (PETS) and the PFAS Water Treatment Research Reactor (PWTRR).

Following successful demonstrations at USAF Hurlburt Field, the original PETS was demonstrated at MCAS Futenma (Okinawa, Japan) for treatment of USTs for aircraft hangars and subsequently transferred to the USMC for continued use in theater. The PWTRR was developed to continuously treat and maintain water levels in a holding pond for a firefighting training area at USAB Misawa, Japan. The PWTRR was transferred to the USAF and continues to operate at Misawa.