Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Water Sources and Impacts on Water and Wastewater Treatment

This white paper examines the critical issue of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in water systems, emphasizing the need for advanced water reuse and reclamation technologies to mitigate water scarcity, particularly in arid and remote regions. These contaminants, which include pharmaceuticals, plasticizers, microplastics, and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pose significant risks to source waters, the environment, and human health, necessitating new treatment technologies that are often energy-intensive.

As regulations surrounding CECs evolve, water utilities will require a comprehensive understanding of the efficacy and energy consumption of various treatment technologies to meet regulatory standards. The urgency is compounded by the increasing energy and water footprint of the semiconductor industry, which heavily utilizes ultrapure water for production.

Addressing this issue would involve: (1) assessing and lowering energy requirements and cost for treatment technologies and (2) testing new technologies and integration of systems. The team proposes fostering greater collaboration with research institutions and establishing test beds, such as Idaho National Laboratory's Water Security Test Bed (WSTB) for large-scale testing of treatment processes under realistic conditions.

Success will be defined by the effective deployment of new treatment technologies that protect human health and the environment by efficiently removing CECs from water supplies. Key indicators include (1) the implementation of effective PFAS removal processes in response to new regulations, (2) quantifiable improvements in water quality and reductions in environmental contamination, (3) enhanced cost-effectiveness and feasibility of treatment technologies, facilitating their adoption across water utilities.