18 months with PFAS: Lessons from a California wastewater pilot study
In this interview from WEFTEC 2025, Bob Crossen speaks with Conner Murray, Principal Engineer at Hazen and Sawyer, about an 18-month pilot study conducted in Riverside, California, with Western Municipal Water District. The study focused on PFAS removal in tertiary wastewater effluent and explored a range of treatment strategies to meet stringent regulatory targets.
Murray shares insights into the challenges of high PFAS concentrations, organic matter interference, and media fouling—issues that wastewater utilities across the country may soon face. The conversation highlights the importance of pretreatment, the limitations of traditional adsorption methods, and the need for tailored solutions in wastewater applications.
Key highlights with timestamps
- 00:07 – Introduction to guest and pilot study
- 00:24 – PFAS regulations shifting to wastewater
- 00:45 – Study location and goals
- 01:08 – Adsorption and pretreatment strategies
- 01:32 – Challenges: high PFAS and low treatment targets
- 02:11 – Organic matter complicates treatment 02:43 – Pretreatment improves adsorption performance
- 03:28 – Algae and media fouling issues
- 04:00 – Lessons for other utilities
- 04:16 – Pretreatment is essential
- 04:38 – Shorter media changeout times in wastewater
- 04:54 – Closing remarks and resources
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About the Author
Bob Crossen
Bob Crossen is the vice president of content strategy for the Water and Energy Groups of Endeavor Business Media, a division of EndeavorB2B. EB2B publishes WaterWorld, Wastewater Digest and Stormwater Solutions in its water portfolio and publishes Oil & Gas Journal, Offshore Magazine, T&D World, EnergyTech and Microgrid Knowledge in its energy portfolio. Crossen graduated from Illinois State University in Dec. 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in German and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. He worked for Campbell Publications, a weekly newspaper company in rural Illinois outside St. Louis for four years as a reporter and regional editor. Crossen can be reached at [email protected].
Mandy Crispin
Mandy Crispin is the editor-in-chief of WaterWorld, having joined Endeavor Business Media in 2023. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada and is a graduate of University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She has internal and external corporate communications experience in disparate industries including online retail, gaming, plastics and is now enjoying exploring the water utility space. Crispin can be reach at [email protected].