The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently awarded nearly $1.5 million in research funding to Clarkson University to develop and demonstrate nanosensor technology to detect, monitor and degrade Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in groundwater and surface water that may be used as drinking water sources.
According to a press release issued by the EPA, the team at Clarkson University will use this research funding to “develop a new portable nanosensing technology, developed as a stand-alone unit with interchangeable sensing and degradation units, to rapidly estimate the level of PFAS exposure, degrade the PFAS and measure the effectiveness of remediation efforts.”
Also known as “forever chemicals,” PFAS are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s because of their useful properties. There are thousands of different PFAS, some of which have been more widely used and studied than others. Perfluorooctanoic Acid and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate, for example, are two of the most widely used and studied chemicals in the PFAS group.
PFOA and PFOS have been replaced in the United States with other PFAS in recent years. One of the major concerns with PFAS is that many break down very slowly and can build up in people, animals, and the environment over time.
Current scientific research suggests that exposure to certain PFAS may lead to adverse health outcomes, including decreased fertility or increased high blood pressure in pregnant women, developmental effects or delays in children, an increased risk of some cancers, and a reduced ability of the body’s immune system to fight infections. Research is still ongoing to determine how different levels of exposure to different PFAS can lead to these and other health effects, and to better understand the ailments associated with low levels of exposure to PFAS over long periods of time, especially in children.
In April 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration issued the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard designed to protect communities from exposure to harmful PFAS. The final rule is part of EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap and is expected to reduce PFAS exposure for approximately 100 million people.
Simultaneously, EPA announced the availability of nearly $1 billion in funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help states and territories implement PFAS testing and treatment at public water systems and to help owners of private wells address PFAS contamination.
“Drinking water contaminated with PFAS has plagued communities across this country for too long,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “…Our PFAS Strategic Roadmap marshals the full breadth of EPA’s authority and resources to protect people from these harmful forever chemicals. Today, I am proud to finalize this critical piece of our Roadmap, and in doing so, save thousands of lives and help ensure our children grow up healthier.”
Clarkson University will create, validate, and put into practice their integrated nanosensor technology for measuring and destroying PFAS in wastewater and groundwater. You can learn more about the project here.
“Advances in nanosensor technology can lead to innovative approaches and critical solutions for PFAS removal,” said Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “This research grant will improve our ability to find and address PFAS, which will in turn better protect communities and the environment from PFAS exposures.”
GPRS Environmental Services Expedite Site Investigations
As the nation looks to understand the true impact of PFAS contamination, environmental services such as soil boring and water testing will be critical.
GPRS supports the safe and efficient completion of these and other environmental tests with our comprehensive suite of infrastructure visualization services, including 99.8% accurate utility locating and concrete scanning, NASSCO-certified video pipe inspection, and pinpoint-accurate leak detection.
Anytime you dig – including when conducting soil borings – you run the risk of striking a buried utility. GPRS’ private utility locating services utilize ground penetrating radar (GPR), and electromagnetic (EM) locating to locate and map your subsurface infrastructure, mitigating the risk of subsurface damage during excavation. To map sewer lines, we combine EM locating with remote-controlled sewer pipe inspection rovers equipped with sondes: instrument probes that the EM locator can detect from the surface. This allows us to map these systems while we’re investigating them for defects such as cross bores, blockages, inflow/infiltration (I/I), and more.
When you need to know where you’re losing water, GPRS conducts leak detection services utilizing acoustic leak detection and leak detection correlators.
Acoustic leak detection involves using specialized microphones, headphones, and control units, as well as complimentary technologies to pinpoint water leaks by listening to amplified sound waves in a wide variety of pipe materials.
Leak detection correlators are algorithm-powered tools that utilize radio waves via a dual sensor system to process and digitally display leak vibrations that correlate to potential pressurized water system leaks. It is used in conjunction with acoustic devices to provide pinpoint leak detection in water and fire suppression infrastructure.
All the field-verified, accurate data collected on your job site by our SIM and NASSCO-certified Project Managers is at your fingertips 24/7 thanks to SiteMap® (patent pending), GPRS’ project & facility management application designed to protect your assets and people.
Accessible from any computer, tablet, or smartphone, SiteMap® allows you to share your critical infrastructure data with whoever needs it, allowing you to eliminate the communication silos that lead to miscommunications, mistakes, and delays.
From skyscrapers to sewer lines, GPRS Intelligently Visualizes The Built World® to keep your projects on time, on budget, and safe.
What can we help you visualize?
Frequently Asked Questions
Does GPRS perform S.U.E. work?
Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) reduces the risk and improves the accuracy of subsurface utility readings. It is broken down into four levels of quality, governed by ASCE Standard 38-02.
GPRS does not provide a fully comprehensive in-house SUE service. We use SUE Level 2-equivalent methodology and equipment to locate utilities with an accuracy rate of 99.8%, and our services allow a SUE Level 1 investigation to be performed more efficiently, eliminating the need to waste thousands of dollars on exploratory potholing.
What type of informational output is provided when GPRS performs a utility locate?
Our Project Managers flag and paint our findings directly on the surface. This method of communication is the most accurate form of marking when excavation is expected to commence within a few days of service.
GPRS also uses a global positioning system (GPS) to collect data points of findings. We use this data to generate a plan, KMZ file, satellite overlay, or CAD file to permanently preserve results for future use. GPRS does not provide land surveying services. If you need land surveying services, please contact a professional land surveyor. Please contact us to discuss the pricing and marking options your project may require.
How does GPRS reinforce its commitment to safety?
At GPRS, safety is always on our radar. That’s why we host and/or sponsor a series of safety-related programs throughout the year.
Concrete Sawing & Drilling Safety Week (CSDSW) sees our safety experts traveling to job sites across the country to deliver free informational sessions on how your workers can keep themselves and each other safe when working with and around concrete.
Construction Safety Week tackles safety topics such as mental health awareness, fall protection, and more.
And Water & Sewer Damage Awareness Week (WSDAW) is focused on the best practices for protecting our water and wastewater infrastructure, so it can keep working for us.
