Fate of PFAS: From Groundwater to Tap Water will focus on PFAS transport to drinking water systems.

(WESTERVILLE, OH — May 24, 2022) The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) has announced it will be holding its Fate of PFAS: From Groundwater to Tap Water conference June 21-22 in Westerville, Ohio.

The educational conference will focus on the fate and transport of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from contaminated sites through groundwater and other environments to drinking water systems.

By focusing on new science and data, the conference will bring together a variety of stakeholders to help address the regulatory and toxicological uncertainties that persist in combating PFAS in drinking water. It will also provide an opportunity to share lessons learned from contaminants mirroring PFAS and present state-of-the-practice in scientific and management approaches to addressing this high-profile and rapidly evolving issue.

NGWA has long been an industry leader in providing PFAS research, education, and resources to the public and scientific communities. In 2017, NGWA published Groundwater and PFAS: State of Knowledge and Practice, which was one of the first PFAS guidance documents to be released. This will also be NGWA’s second conference taking place in Westerville, Ohio, focused entirely on PFAS science and remediation.

The conference will consist of two days of conference sessions and panel discussions led by the industry’s leading experts, and the keynote address will be given by Charles Newell, Ph.D., CGWP. Newell is a member of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers, an NGWA Certified Groundwater Professional, and an adjunct professor at Rice University.

“Cultivating ideas and pursuing new scientific research is paramount as we continue to address the worldwide PFAS contamination,” said NGWA CEO Terry S. Morse, CAE, CIC. “And, by bringing experts together for two days of education and discussion, we can advance PFAS remediation techniques and technology which will help our communities create healthier and safer places to live. We would like to thank everyone participating in the conference and we are looking forward to this unique event.”

The conference will also include an optional tour of the City of Westerville water treatment facility, which recently expanded its operations to include a filtration process that utilizes granular activated carbon (GAC). Although PFAS are not currently contaminants of concern in Westerville’s source water, GAC filtration is one of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “best available technologies” to treat drinking water for PFAS contamination.

For further comment or to arrange an interview, please contact NGWA Public Relations and Government Affairs Manager Ben Frech at bfrech@ngwa.org.

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The National Ground Water Association is a not-for-profit professional society and trade association for the global groundwater industry. Our members around the world include leading public and private sector groundwater scientists, engineers, water well system professionals, manufacturers, and suppliers of groundwater-related products and services. The Association’s vision is to be the leading groundwater association advocating for responsible development, management, and use of water.