The fate of perfluoralkyl acids (PFAAs) from source to finished water was assessed by sampling influents and effluents of the several treatment steps (coagulation, sand filtration, aeration, ozonation, softening, GAC filtration) in a complete drinking water-production chain. In the intake water, the most abundant PFAA were PFBA, PFBS, PFOS and PFOA. During treatment longer chain PFAA were removed by the GAC treatment step, whereas more hydrophilic shorter chain PFAA were not. A decreasing removal capacity of the GAC was observed with increasing carbon loading and with decreasing carbon chain length of the PFAAs. This study shows that none of the treatment steps, including softening processes, are effective for PFAA removal, except for GAC filtration. The enrichment of branched PFOS and PFOA isomers relative to non branched isomers during GAC filtration was observed during treatment. The concentrations of PFAA observed in finished waters are no reason for concern.

Impact of treatment processes on the removal of perfluoroalkyl acids from the drinking water production chain

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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