Even before the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) on April 10, 2024, Woodard & Curran’s engineers and scientists partnered with clients across the country to address the presence of PFAS in both drinking water and the environment. Since that time, we have successfully deployed numerous PFAS treatment systems that bring the contaminant of concern below detectable levels, oftentimes on expedited schedules. Leveraging state-of-the-art technology, a deep understanding of regulatory and funding requirements, and our expertise in planning, design, construction, and operations, we expeditiously bridge the gap between concept and implementation.
We understand the importance of delivering PFAS-free drinking water to customers as swiftly as possible. As we worked through each PFAS treatment system design, our water engineers developed technical tools that incorporate the best practices from our experience, establishing a quality foundation for design delivery that enables us to focus on our client’s specific needs and break ground quickly. For example, through our experience navigating supply chain challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, we developed an approach to pre-procure critical equipment to ensure equipment delivery schedules do not delay the overall construction schedule.
Our ability to deliver immediate solutions started long before the Federal regulations were promulgated, when the spotlight on PFAS was just coming into focus. In January 2019, groundwater sampling indicated elevated levels of PFAS in the town of Hudson, MA. Woodard & Curran partnered with the town’s Department of Public Works and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) to immediately develop a treatment solution to deliver safe drinking water to Hudson residents. Within three months, our drinking water experts designed and implemented a system that integrated seamlessly with the town’s existing water treatment facility with minimal impact on the Water Department’s daily operations. The rapidly deployed, temporary system provided water with non-detectable PFAS concentrations and set the stage for design and construction of a permanent six-vessel granular activated carbon (GAC) system, funded in part by a $1.5 million principal forgiveness loan that alleviated the cost burden to water system ratepayers.
Similarly, the town of Mansfield, MA detected PFAS at levels above the MassDEP maximum contaminant level (MCL) in water supplied from the Cate Springs Well, the town’s largest water supply. The well, with a pumping capacity of more than 1,000 gallons per minute, was immediately taken off-line while Woodard & Curran’s drinking water experts launched into design. The team prioritized establishing a treatment scheme which allowed pre-procurement of four GAC treatment vessels early in the design schedule. Construction and start-up were phased with the GAC vessels coming online while the building enclosure was still under construction. The town leveraged a $200,000 design grant from MassDEP and $4.5 million from the Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (DWSRF) to finance the construction.
Recently, Woodard & Curran designed the first municipal-scale PFAS removal treatment system in Rhode Island at the University of Rhode Island-owned and operated public water system on its Kingston Campus. When water sampling in June and July 2023 found PFAS concentrations at 29 parts per trillion (ppt), the university hired Woodard & Curran under a design-build contract with construction partner Hart Companies. The project team delivered an interim PFAS treatment system to the university within nine months of the contract being signed, ensuring the 17,000 students returning to campus in the fall of 2024 had access to clean drinking water.
Through innovation, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to rapid response, we believe our approach to design and construction of PFAS treatment systems sets a new standard for public water supplies. Our adaptable design — built on real-world experience — not only accelerates delivery but ensures communities have reliable access to safe water sooner. As regulatory pressures intensify and technological demands evolve, we remain dedicated to empowering clients with solutions that combine efficiency, customization, and proven expertise, safeguarding public health and building resilient water systems for the future.
