Webinar Summary
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large family of hydrophobic, oleophobic, and hydrophilic chemicals commonly used in a wide range of consumer, manufacturing, and firefighting products. Ubiquitous and environmentally persistent, PFAS are detected in drinking water supplies across the United States. PFAS have been detected in the Orange County Groundwater Basin in southern California.
This webinar will present results and lessons learned from Orange County Water District's (OCWD's) large pilot testing program that evaluated the performance of 14 different adsorbents, including traditional granular activated carbon (GAC) and ion-exchange (IX) products as well as alternative adsorbents, to remove PFAS from the groundwater. In parallel, complimentary laboratory-scale testing of GAC and the crushable alternative adsorbents was also completed. The objective was to determine which of these media are most efficient at removing PFAS for Orange County water agencies for the best value considering the local groundwater geochemistry.
Treatment of PFAS at drinking water production wells throughout north and central Orange County will allow the local water agencies to utilize local groundwater instead of purchasing costly imported water (approximately two times greater cost).
About the Presenter
Manmeet "Meeta" Pannu, Ph.D., is a Senior Scientist in the Research and Development (R&D) Department of Orange County Water District (OCWD) at OCWD Field Headquarters in Anaheim, California.
Trained as a soil scientist and with prior work experience as a regulator, Dr. Pannu is currently completing research at OCWD related to PFAS. These projects include evaluation of granulated activated carbon (GAC), ion exchange (IX), and alternative adsorbents to remove PFAS from groundwater during wellhead treatment, removal of PFAS during managed aquifer recharge via in-situ adsorption, and alternative methods to measure total PFAS in water samples. OCWD R&D Department conducts applied research that supports the OCWD's operational, regulatory, and water quality objectives through technology evaluation, development of new methods/processes, and collaboration with universities and topic experts.
In her previous work, Dr. Pannu has worked on fate and transport of emerging contaminants like antimicrobial compounds. Dr. Pannu has over 10 years of experience conducting field and laboratory studies.
Webinar Format
This will be an interactive session with "live chat" capability. The session is open to environmental engineering and science professionals across all sectors and career stages. Our objective is to offer special insights on leading edge solutions for graduate and undergraduate students as well as early to mid-career environmental professionals who are considering specialty certification.
AAEES Board Certified Individuals: Attend this event and earn 1.5 PDHs towards your PDH requirements for maintaining your specialty certification.
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