PFAS in Industrial Wastewater: Applications, Regulations, Remediation and What’s Next

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” have been used in products like nonstick cookware, stain- and water-resistant fabrics, firefighting foam, and many other popular applications for decades. But in the early 2000s, PFAS started to draw attention as an environmental and human health risk. And in the past several years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has adopted drinking water standards for the most common PFAS, and some states have introduced their own regulations for PFAS in groundwater, drinking water, soil and biosolids. 

So, what could be next for PFAS regulations? We suspect the focus could be on industrial wastewater discharge permits to surface waters and municipal wastewater. That would include landfills and industrial facilities and processes — two of the leading contributors of PFAS in wastewater — which often send discharge to municipal wastewater treatment facilities not designed for effective PFAS removal. New regulations might add PFAS to wastewater discharge parameters, putting the burden on industrial facilities and significantly altering the processes they currently have in place.

Here’s what you need to know about industrial applications for PFAS and the current state of remedies and regulations.  

How is PFAS used in industrial applications? 

PFAS are used in industrial applications across the aerospace and automotive, electronics, textile, food packaging, and oil and gas industries. Some products include: 

• Lubricants 
• Outdoor gear
• Cables
• Waterproof cording
• Drilling fluids 

These applications are often practical and beneficial. For example, drilling fluid helps with mechanical resistance and the movement of equipment and pipelines. But that can come with risks as well — the fluid can leach into the surrounding soil during operation. 

There are clear benefits to PFAS, and regulators are tasked with weighing those benefits against the risks to consumers and society. One growing issue is the discharge of PFAS to wastewater treatment plant systems. Either through wastewater discharge or waste, which may end in landfill leachate, PFAS in the industrial applications listed above can end up in treatment plants and move into the drinking water supply.

How are current PFAS solutions complex and context-specific?

Because PFAS chemistry is complex, traditional technologies have only been partially effective in treating these compounds. We cannot assume well-known water treatment technologies will work. Some technologies — such as granular-activated carbon treatment, ion-exchange treatment or membranes — have shown progress, but it really depends on the situation and required practices. 

A single technology may not give industrial facilities results with an aggressive PFAS situation, but some technology combinations have shown promising results. For example, reverse osmosis combined with froth flotation can remove and isolate PFAS compounds to be buried or destroyed. This is an example of a new technology (froth flotation) being developed to work in tandem with the old (reverse osmosis).

To help advance best practices, industrial companies manufacturing products with PFAS discharge will have to continue exploring options even before consistent regulations are adopted. Responsible companies can play a role in introducing and testing new manufacturing or PFAS disposal technologies, which eventually may be scaled across industries and countries, helping to find remediation options to lessen the effects of any potential regulations. 

What discussions are happening about PFAS in industrial settings?

PFAS in water and wastewater are a global focus. At the 2025 Water Environment Federation's Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC), there were many sessions and discussions on PFAS water contamination. I took away a couple of things. 

Realistic PFAS disposal and destruction solutions are needed. PFAS do not break down easily, and water and wastewater professionals around the world are facing many challenges because of it. Should they use destruction or disposal methods like hazardous waste landfills, specialized high-temperature incineration, deep underground injection wells or something else?

Typical municipal solid waste landfills with composite liner and leachate collection systems can effectively contain PFAS compounds, but most industrial plants rely on municipal wastewater facilities to treat the leachate prior to discharge, which is not that effective. In some studies, control of PFAS compounds in a conventional incinerator has shown to be effective under controlled temperatures and resonance time, but full destruction in an operating facility is still being evaluated. 

To help clarify available techniques, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued guidance on the destruction and disposal of PFAS with information on the latest science and challenges related to common solutions listed above.

In any case, emerging PFAS disposal technologies, including the most advanced, may still create other hazardous byproducts or just push the problem for another generation to solve. Many currently proposed technologies will face significant challenges to meet any future requirements for PFAS. As stated previously, there’s a need for more innovation and testing for PFAS removal and destruction in industrial applications, and companies themselves can lead the way. 

Industrial companies seek consistent global regulations. Regulations remain different from country to country and state to state in the United States. While some requirements have been outlined in different countries, no comprehensive approach exists. Because of this, PFAS best practices are a moving target, making it difficult for global industrial operations to know how to move forward in managing these substances. 

Beyond the EPA drinking water standard, some U.S. states have focused on regulating specific industries, such as textiles and consumer goods. England has released a centralized PFAS plan that focuses on understanding sources, tackling pathways and reducing exposure. In any good regulation, flexibility will be important, so industrial owners can adjust and plan.

Without exact, detailed requirements, many industrial facilities often take a wait-and-see attitude before making major investments, which may increase future operational and financial risk. I recommend that companies consider and adopt proactive policies now rather than later.

What should be next for managing PFAS in industrial applications?

PFAS deliver technical benefits that industry and consumers continue to value, but their persistence demands a new approach. What the industry needs is an innovative approach to global regulations that have well-defined characteristics for industrial manufacturers to follow. In tandem, there is a need for technologies powerful enough to treat or destroy PFAS. 

Industrial operators that take a proactive role in testing treatment strategies and preparing for regulatory changes can help shape practical solutions while protecting public health and the environment.

HDR has contributed to the efforts to find solutions to PFAS contamination. We have a group of specialists who have worked in more than 20 U.S. states on more than 60 bench-scale, pilot, and demonstration treatment facility projects related to PFAS. HDR’s teams have also studied different advanced treatment technologies, including:

• Granular-activated carbon
• Ion exchange
• Nanofiltration
• Novel sorbents
• Foam fractionation
• Electrochemical water oxidation
• Ozone
• Gasification and pyrolysis
• Supercritical oxidation
• Ultraviolet and advanced oxidation processes 

Through projects and research like this, PFAS specialists have provided early assessment and pilot strategies to assess technology adoption competitively for filtration and destruction technologies that can play a large role in industrial applications.