U.S. EPA releases PFAS risk assessment: Now what?

In April of 2022, Maine banned land application of biosolids due to concerns of PFAS. It has become a point of contention in the state, causing wastewater systems to scramble for alternatives with much of it going over the border to Canadian landfills as Maine landfills refuse to accept the waste or run into capacity issues. 

Nearly two years later, U.S. EPA released a long-awaited risk assessment of two PFAS chemicals — PFOA and PFOS — in sewage sludge and land-applied biosolids on January 14, 2025. While this assessment is not a regulation, it suggests a degree of risk that could one day include a regulation.  

So what do wastewater leaders need to do now and what does this assessment mean for them? Endeavor Business Media Water Group Editor Alex Cossin caught up with Kyle Thompson, the PFAS national practice lead for Carollo Engineers, to get the details. 

Show Notes:   

• Watch: EPA draft sludge risk assessment for PFAS: What it means for utilities 
• Read: Five takeaways from the EPA's draft sewage sludge risk assessment for PFOA and PFOS 

Timestamps:   

• Introduction and episode summary | 00:09
• Interview begins | 1:24
• Findings and takeaways from the PFAS sewage sludge risk assessment | 1:37
• How can utilities use this information to plan around PFAS? | 5:54
• What are the best treatment options for PFAS in sludge and biosolids? | 10:19
• What's the best way to communicate with customers on this? | 13:39
• Housekeeping | 17:38

Resources: 

• Nominate a Wastewater Digest Emerging leader 
• Nominate a WaterWorld Emerging Leader 
• Nominate a Stormwater Solutions Emerging Leader 

About the Podcast 

Talking Under Water is the premier podcast for the water industry, including municipal water and wastewater, residential water treatment, storm water management and erosion control. It is produced in coordination between Wastewater Digest (WWD), WaterWorld and Storm Water Solutions (SWS). The podcast covers topics under the One Water movement including the municipal and industrial water and wastewater, residential, storm water and erosion control markets. Talking Under Water highlights news, trends, new technologies, industry discussions and interviews with experts across the municipal water industry. New episodes of the podcast are released every other week. Logo Images: Anatoly Tiplyashin / Romolo Tavani / stock.adobe.com.      

Contact the Talking Under Water podcast editors by emailing [e-mail] engaging with them on Twitter @TUWpodcast. Join the conversation by commenting or using the hashtag #talkingunderwaterpod on social media.