Ensuring Safe Drinking Water: A Proactive Approach to PFAS Remediation

The Rhône-South Mixed Water Syndicate is making a significant investment of €4.2 million to enhance its Ternay water production plant, located south of Lyon’s Valley of chemistry. This upgrade will incorporate a patented Suez solution designed to effectively remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from the drinking water supply, ensuring the continued health and safety of the region’s inhabitants.

PFAS, often referred to as forever chemicals, are a group of man-made chemicals that have been used in various industries and consumer products sence the 1940s. Thay are persistent in the surroundings and can accumulate in the human body, leading to potential health risks. Recent studies have linked PFAS exposure to various health issues, including immune deficiencies, liver cancer, and thyroid abnormalities. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established health advisories for certain PFAS, and many regions are actively working to reduce PFAS levels in drinking water sources.

The Challenge: addressing PFAS Contamination in the rhône-South Region

The Rhône-Sud drinking water union, which supplies 6 million cubic meters of water annually to 170,000 residents across the Metropolis of Lyon and Vienne Condrieu Agglomeration, identified PFAS contamination as a critical issue three years ago. Guy martinet, president of the mixed union, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, Three years ago, we discovered that the quality of the water did not comply with pollution at PFAS. This revelation prompted a search for effective remediation strategies.

Suez’s Innovative Solution: Continuous Active Carbon Renewal

Suez has provided a patented technology, developed in 2020, to address the PFAS contamination. This technology involves installing six active carbon reactors with an ascending flow pattern within the Ternay plant. Pierre Pauliac, director of the Suez Water Division, explained the key advantage of this system: Active coal will be continuously renewed by injection, thus making it possible to guarantee the stability of the treatment to guarantee the quality of the water output from factory. this continuous renewal process ensures consistent water quality over time, a significant improvement over traditional carbon filters that experience declining efficiency as the carbon becomes saturated.

The spent carbon will be transported to Belgium for regeneration, minimizing waste and promoting a circular economy approach.

Financial Implications and Project Timeline

The €4.2 million project cost includes €1.75 million in funding from the Water Agency. Though, the enhanced treatment process will result in an increased water price for consumers. René Martinez, vice-president of the mixed union, announced that the price of water would increase by of the order of 24 to 45 cents more than M³.

Work on the project is scheduled to begin instantly and is expected to take twelve months to complete. This investment underscores the Rhône-South Mixed Water Syndicate’s commitment to providing safe and reliable drinking water to its constituents, even in the face of emerging environmental challenges like PFAS contamination.