PNAS (Research Article): High Organofluorine concentrations in municipal wastewater affect downstream drinking water supplies for millions of Americans

Edited by William Schlesinger, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY; received August 22, 2024; accepted December 9, 2024. Released to the press on January 6, 2025.

“US municipal wastewater facilities are major per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) sources known to affect drinking water quality. Among eight large wastewater treatment facilities with comparable treatment technologies and sizes to those serving 70% of the US population, we found that the six regulated PFAS in drinking water accounted for <10% of extractable organofluorine (EOF) in wastewater influent and effluent. Most (62 to 75%) of the EOF consisted of commonly prescribed fluorinated pharmaceuticals, and the maximum EOF removal efficiency was <25%. Results from a national wastewater dilution model suggest that wastewater PFAS discharges impair drinking water supplies for >20 million Americans, emphasizing the importance of reducing diverse PFAS sources entering wastewater.”