PFAS Reduction in Water: Regulatory Updates and Technologies for Removal

In recent years, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have become synonymous with one of Europe’s most significant environmental emergencies. Present in numerous industrial and consumer products, these highly persistent chemicals contaminate soils and aquifers, accumulate in living organisms, and pose a tangible risk to public health.
Reducing PFAS has become an international priority. In Italy and across Europe, regulations are evolving rapidly, while technology—particularly reverse osmosis (RO)—remains the most effective solution for PFAS removal in drinking and process water.

What PFAS Are and Why They Are a Problem

PFAS are a family of over 4,700 organofluorinated compounds used for their hydro- and oleophobic properties. They are found in technical fabrics, non-stick coatings, firefighting foams, food packaging, and many industrial processes.
Their chemical stability, while industrially useful, is also the source of the environmental problem: PFAS do not degrade easily and can persist in the environment for decades. Recent studies link chronic exposure to endocrine, liver, and immune system disorders.
Once present in aquifers, PFAS spread quickly, requiring advanced and continuous treatment solutions.

Regulatory Updates: New European and Italian Limits

The PFAS regulatory landscape is constantly evolving:

  • EU Directive 2020/2184 (transposed into Italian law with D.Lgs. 18/2023) established, for the first time, specific limits in water intended for human consumption:
    - 0.10 µg/L for the sum of 20 main PFAS;
    - 0.50 µg/L for the total sum of all PFAS.
  • At the national level, some regions, including Veneto and Piedmont, had already implemented stricter limits following local aquifer contamination.
  • The REACH proposal under discussion at the EU level aims to progressively restrict the production and use of PFAS in many industrial applications.

Companies that use or treat water must therefore adopt filtration and treatment systems capable of meeting these thresholds, with continuous monitoring and analytical traceability.

Technologies for PFAS Removal: The Effectiveness of Reverse Osmosis

Traditional purification techniques—flocculation, sedimentation, sand or carbon filtration—cannot retain these very small, resistant molecules. The most recognized effective technologies today include:

1. Reverse Osmosis (RO)
The most effective solution for PFAS removal. Water is forced through semipermeable membranes that retain up to 99% of contaminant molecules, including PFOS, PFOA, and short-chain PFAS.
RO systems offer:

  • Consistent efficiency with automated pressure and flow control;
  • Flexibility for both civil and industrial applications;
  • Low operating costs with modern energy recovery systems;
  • Integration with pre- and post-treatment steps (adsorption, disinfection).

Termoacqua designs modular, customized RO plants sized according to the input water quality and required purity, ensuring certified performance.

2. Adsorption on Activated Carbon or Anionic Resins
Effective for moderate PFAS concentrations.
Can be integrated as a safety filter downstream of RO or as pre-treatment to reduce membrane load.
Granular carbon requires periodic replacement or regeneration to maintain adsorption efficiency.

3. Combined Treatments (RO + AOP)
In complex cases, RO is paired with Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP), which degrade residual fluorinated organics, achieving near-total removal of short-chain PFAS.

Industrial and Civil Applications

RO technology is applied in multiple contexts:

  • Food industry – ensuring process water purity and safety;
  • Pharmaceutical and chemical plants – where water quality directly affects product outcomes;
  • Municipal and civil networks – for depuration and potabilization of contaminated water;
  • Wastewater treatment companies – to comply with discharge limits.

Termoacqua provides dedicated solutions for each scenario, with low-energy RO systems and automated management, ideal for integration into water reuse or recovery systems.

Maintenance, Monitoring, and Responsible Management

PFAS reduction requires more than installing a plant: it demands continuous and responsible operation. Termoacqua offers a full-service approach including:

  • Periodic water analysis;
  • Monitoring membrane performance and scheduled replacements;
  • Tracking operational parameters (pressure, conductivity, flow);
  • Regulatory consulting for audits and environmental certifications.

This integrated management ensures operational stability, constant regulatory compliance, and reduced costs and risks of non-compliance.

Environmental and Industrial Commitment

PFAS reduction is not just a regulatory obligation—it is an ethical responsibility.

Every liter of decontaminated water restores environmental value and protects human health.

Termoacqua considers this challenge part of its corporate DNA: combining technology, sustainability, and Italian know-how to guarantee clean, safe water that meets the most stringent regulations.