Document ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2022-0114-1215
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2023-03-29T04:00Z

Calgon Carbon PFAS Experience

To Whom It May Concern:

This document is meant to summarize the key points of Calgon Carbon's (henceforth CCC) experience with regard to the treatment of per- and polyfluoro alkyl substances (PFAS) using granular activated carbon (GAC). A document with figures/images to supplement and elaborate on the talking points below is also provided.
We want to help provide the most up to date information to decision makers with respect to the ability to treat PFAS, so please do not hesitate to contact us directly for any additional clarification or discussion if you think it would be helpful.

Sincerely,

Frederic (Eric) Forrester
Technical Development Engineer  -  PFAS Applications
Calgon Carbon  -  A Kuraray Company
P: 412-787-6821
E: fforrester@calgoncarbon.com 

GAC is an effective and proven treatment technology for PFAS

 CCC has provided GAC systems for PFAS treatment for 15+ years 
 CCC has provided more than 45+ unique municipal treatment systems across the US specifically for PFAS; a map is included on slide 8 of the supplemental deck.
 Performance data from laboratories studies published in the American Water Works Journal (January 2018) and the Remediation Journal (December 2018) are included in slides 13-15
 Performance graphs for the Village of Hoosick Falls, NY treatment system are included in slides 17-20 as case study demonstrating field performance

Not all GAC is the same

 GAC can be made from any substance made of carbon, but the starting material influences GAC properties 
 Physical properties will vary from product to product (density, porosity, hardness, etc.)
 Performance/contaminant removal will vary from product to product (duration of service life)
 Starting material effects source of supply & product lead times (e.g. bituminous coal sourced from USA vs. coconut shell sources in SE Asia)
 Images of GAC and differences between starting materials are highlighted in slides 10-12
 Performance data showing differences between bituminous coal based GAC (good performer) and coconut shell based GAC (poor performer) are shown in slides 13-14

GAC is economical & sustainable

 GAC is listed as a best-available-technology (BAT) by the EPA for multiple classes of drinking water contaminants (PFAS, VOCs, DBPs)
 GAC can remove multiple contaminants from the same water source simultaneously, saving on current and future treatment requirements, lowering the burden no treatment utilities
 Capital costs are on the order of ~$300,000 for a 1 million gallon per day (1 MGD) GAC PFAS treatment system; a list of CCC installations and their associated capital costs (equipment + media only, delivery/freight no included) is given below as a reference
 GAC can be recycled and reused via thermal reactivation; thermal reactivation is a high temperature process used to remove contaminants from the carbon and restore its ability to treat water
 CCC currently working on a joint study with the EPA outlining the reactivation process and its ability to remove PFAS from GAC

                                     State
                                   Location
                                     Flow
                                 Concentration
                                    Package
                                Delivered Cost
                                      NY
                            Newburg/Lake Washington
                                   6,150 gpm
                                  50-150 ppt
                       18 x 12' vessels 720,000 lbs GAC 
                                  $ 3,450,000
                                      AK
                                  Eielson AFB
                                   1,500 gpm
                                  100-500 ppt
                        6 x 10' vessels 120,000 lbs GAC
                                   $ 900,000
                                      DE
                              Artesian Resources
                                   1,000 gpm
                                  50-250 ppt
                        4 x 10' vessels 80,000 lbs GAC
                                   $ 536,900
                                      OH
                             Wright Patterson AFB
                                   1,900 gpm
                                  400-600 ppt
                        4 x 10' vessels 80,000 lbs GAC
                                   $ 500,000
                                      PA
                                    Horsham
                                   1,000 gpm
                                  50-150 ppt
                        4 x 10' vessels 80,000 lbs GAC
                                   $ 450,000
                                      NH
                                   Pease AFB
                                    500 gpm
                                  50-100 ppt
                        2 x 10' vessels 40,000 lbs GAC
                                   $ 400,000
                                      DE
                         Municipal Services Commission
                                    350 gpm
                                 800-1,000 ppt
                        2 x 12' vessels 80,000 lbs GAC
                                   $ 354,135
                                      AL
                           West Morgan-East Lawrence
                                   4,200 gpm
                                  100-250 ppt
                                270,000 lbs GAC
                                   $ 320,000
                                      AZ
                                    Liberty
                                   1,100 gpm
                                  50-250 ppt
                         2 x 12' vessels 40,000 lbs GAC
                                   $ 257,000
                                      FL
                              ECUA Spanish Trail
                                   1,000 gpm
                                  100-300 ppt
                        4 x 10' vessels 80,000 lbs GAC
                                   $ 250,000
                                      FL
                                 ECUA Airport
                                   1,000 gpm
                                  100-300 ppt
                        4 x 10' vessels 80,000 lbs GAC
                                   $ 274,990
                                      PA
                               Aqua PA, Chalfont
                                    400 gpm
                                  50-150 ppt
                        2 x 10' vessels 40,000 lbs GAC
                                   $ 260,000
                                      PA
                               Aqua PA, Hatsboro
                                    200 gpm
                                  50-150 ppt
                           2 x 8' vessels 20,000 lbs
                                   $ 195,000
                                      NY
                           Hoosick Falls -Temporary
                                    500 gpm
                                  300-500 ppt
                        2 x 10' vessels 40,000 lbs GAC
                                   $ 191,718
                                      NY
                           Hoosick Falls - Permanent
                                    700 gpm
                                  300-500 ppt
                        2 x 12' vessels 80,000 lbs GAC
                                   $ 440,750
                                      NJ
                                   Montclair
                                    500 gpm
                                  100-150 ppt
                        2 x 10' vessels 40,000 lbs GAC
                                   $ 249,900
                                      MA
                                  Barnstable
                                   1,000 gpm
                                  400-600 ppt
                        4 x 10' vessels 80,000 lbs GAC
                                   $ 132,000
                                      NY
                                  Petersburgh
                                    50 gpm
                                  50-150 ppt
                         2 x 4' vessels  4,000 lbs GAC
                                   $ 87,000
                                      NJ
                                   Garfield
                                    350 gpm
                                  50-150 ppt
                        2 x 10' vessels 40,000 lbs GAC
                                   $ 63,000
                                      PA
                                  Warrington
                                    400 gpm
                                 500-2,000 ppt
                        2 x 10' vessels 40,000 lbs GAC
                                   $ 362,650
                                      GA
                                     Rome
                                   6,250 gpm
                                  100-200 ppt
                                30,000 lbs GAC
                                   $ 61,000