PFAS – Once Overlooked, Now Unavoidable – What You Can Do About It

July 15, 2025

PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have become a major concern for regulators and the water industry, which means it will now impact on your business. Known as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment, PFAS pose complex challenges for manufacturers, water authorities, and industrial dischargers alike.

At LS Wastewater & Process Consulting Ltd, we work closely with clients across various industries to identify, assess, and manage PFAS risks in wastewater and process systems. Whether you’re in manufacturing, food processing, metal finishing, or chemical production, PFAS may be silently accumulating and contaminating your effluent streams, and regulators are paying attention.

What Is PFAS and Why Should You Care? PFAS are a group of thousands of synthetic chemicals used for their heat resistance, water repellency, and non-stick properties. They are found in everyday products, including cleaning products, water-resistant fabrics (umbrellas, raincoats), grease resistant paper, nonstick cookware, personal care products, (shampoo, dental floss, nail polish, eye makeup), stain-resistant coatings (carpets, upholstery, fabrics) and electronics.

While PFAS make products more durable, they also resist natural breakdown. Once discharged to trade effluent, sewer or foul drains and subsequently released into the environment, often through wastewater discharge they can easily contaminate groundwater, surface water, and soil.

Engineering Greener Solutions More importantly, due to the bioaccumulation effect, PFAS exposure has been linked to serious health concerns, including developmental issues, immune system disruption, and certain cancers. For industrial operators, this presents issues with regulatory compliance, clean up, environmental responsibility and competitiveness challenges.

What’s the Problem for Industry? In the UK and across Europe, regulatory pressure is mounting. The Environment Agency has increased monitoring of industrial discharges for PFAS compounds, and tighter discharge limits are anticipated under evolving UK REACH, water and environmental legislation. Water companies are now seriously reviewing discharge consents and analysing effluent streams for PFAS contamination. Industry are increasingly being held accountable not only for their direct discharges but also for contamination passed along through supply chains. This means all industrial processes could be liable for current and past PFAS discharges found in their process wastewater. Ignoring the issue is no longer an option!

What’s Being Done to Sort this Problem? Managing PFAS is challenging because traditional wastewater treatment technologies, like activated sludge or standard filtration are not effective in removing them. However, several treatment and mitigation strategies are emerging, including:

  • Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)
  • Ion Exchange Resins
  • Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs)
  • Membrane Filtration

The key is understanding whether you have a problem or not and choosing the right solution for your site’s specific PFAS profile, and that starts with a proper assessment.

How to Start Assessing if You Have a PFAS Issue Many companies don’t realise they are discharging PFAS until it’s too late, either due to regulatory enforcement or reputational damage. The first step is awareness, and the second is data.

At LS Wastewater & Process Consulting Ltd, we offer a structured PFAS Assessment Pathway:

1. Site Review – We look at your processes, raw materials, supply chain, and histor ical waste profiles to assess PFAS risk.

2. Targeted Sampling & Analysis – Using accredited laboratories, we conduct wastewater sampling focused on key PFAS compounds.

3. Gap Analysis – We compare your current wastewater treatment against potential PFAS removal needs.

4. Strategic Roadmap – A tailored action plan outlining mitigation options, time lines, and cost-benefit scenarios.

5. Regulators – we can help work with your regulator or water company to ensure agreement between all parties.

This approach helps our clients stay ahead of regulation and implement solutions that are pragmatic, scalable, and cost-effective, without affecting your day-to-day operations.

What Needs to Be Done Now? If your business discharges process water or trade effluent, even indirectly, PFAS needs to be on your radar. Proactive steps and understanding now can prevent expensive process changes or remediation later. You’ll also demonstrate your proactive response to regulators, clients, and the public, something increasingly valuable in today’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) driven economy.

LS Wastewater & Process Consulting Ltd have the technical expertise, sector insight, and hands-on experience to help you navigate PFAS risks confidently. Whether you’re looking to assess a single site or standardise a PFAS strategy across multiple locations, we’re here to help. Don’t wait for your water company to ask the question or for regulators to knock. Start your PFAS understanding today, contact LS Wastewater & Process Consulting Ltd for a confidential consultation.

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