Read the full article by Katherine Zehnder (The Carolina Journal).
“On April 29, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) presented the findings of its 2023 study, which examined PFAS levels in wastewater and wastewater treatment to inform future minimization and regulatory decision-making. PFAS contamination was found widely across the samples examined.
‘There are no regulations for PFAS in biosolids, state or federal, and there are no surface water quality standards for PFAS either,’ Julie Grzyb, deputy director of the DEQ, told the committee. ‘There’s very limited standard out there.’
Maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for drinking water are projected to be implemented in 2029, according to DEQ.
The study reported perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were found in influent, effluent, biosolids, and soil samples. PFAS can enter biosolids via industrial or residential users. Treatment plants that are 100% domestic had, on average, lower influent (going into the treatment plant) and effluent (being discharged from the treatment plant) PFAS levels than municipal and industrial treatment plants. According to the study, PFAS mass exiting wastewater treatment plants was discharged to surface waters, while 2-13% remain in biosolids.”…