Forum will focus on research of emerging and long-studied groundwater contaminants.

(WESTERVILLE, OH — May 17, 2021) The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) will be holding its Problematic Groundwater Contaminants: More Than PFAS Forum virtually May 26-27. The two-day forum will explore scientific advancements and new regulatory issues facing emerging and long-studied groundwater contaminants.

While per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) attract a great deal of media attention and focus from legislative and regulatory bodies, many of the difficult issues associated with groundwater remediation are related to PFAS’ predecessors. These include contaminants such as 1,4-dioxane, 1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP), arsenic, manganese, biologicals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides and PCE (perchloroethylene), TCE (trichloroethylene), and vinyl chloride.

The goal of the forum is to present current research and remediation methods of these contaminants while encouraging their ongoing study.

“While certain contaminants may vanish from the headlines, they rarely vanish as threats to our water supply,” said NGWA CEO Terry S. Morse, CAE, CIC. “As a leader in groundwater research, NGWA understands it’s important that we keep actively pursuing the study of a wide variety of contaminants and this forum plays an important role in those efforts.”

Rula Deeb, Ph.D., BCEEM, senior principal with Geosyntec Consultants Inc., will be the forum’s keynote speaker. Deeb has more than 25 years of experience focused on private practice and academia addressing the transport of contaminants and the remediation of complex soil and groundwater sites. Her work has promoted awareness and improved the understanding of the sources, occurrence, fate and transport, and behavior of several challenging environmental contaminants, including PFAS, 1,4-dioxane, methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE), perchlorate, N-nitroso dimethylamine (NDMA), endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs).

If you are interested in covering the conference or would like to arrange an interview with a presenter, please contact Ben Frech at bfrech@ngwa.org or (614) 898-7791, ext. 1570.

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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.