GHD appointed to work with the Environment Agency to research and assess harmful “forever chemicals”
The overarching goal for the EA PFAS Risk Screening Project is to ultimately attain healthy air, land, and water, by undertaking assessments which may inform the derivation and implementation of regulatory measures where risks posed from these substances are deemed unacceptable.
As part of the PFAS Risk Screening Project (Phase 4), GHD will work with the EA on four lots in Work Package 5 to help assess and characterise the risks of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as “forever chemicals”, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and other hazardous substances in UK landfill emissions (leachate and gases). The objective of the work is to improve overall understanding of the scale and extent of such substances from landfill emissions and their potential migration pathways and impact on the terrestrial/fresh and water/marine environments.
Through monitoring at select landfills and wastewater treatment plants across England, GHD will test various media for the presence and magnitude of PFAS and POPs contaminants, and then interpret the data for emissions characterisation and look at the effectiveness of leachate treatment plants and associated wastewater treatment works in contaminant removal. GHD’s scope across the four lots comprises research and investigative work to evaluate the potential landfill sources that may be contributing to the widespread nature of these contaminants in the environment. This information will be used by the EA to develop regulatory tools to ensure their guidance for environmental monitoring at landfill sites is fit for purpose.
GHD’s proposed approach to data-led decision making and accuracy as well as previous UK and global experience in PFAS and POPs assessment were key factors in the successful bid. The project will enable GHD and its partners Enitial, a specialist monitoring company with a wealth of experience at landfill and water treatment sites, to leverage off its UK and global knowledge of PFAS in order to assist the EA with characterising and further understanding PFAS and POPs in the landfill environment in England.
PFAS have negatively impacted many communities around the world, for instance affecting potable water supplies in areas of Australia and North America. GHD has several years’ experience of research and site investigation in Australia, which it will leverage to help the EA identify PFAS contamination sources and liabilities, while providing them with robust and pragmatic solutions tailored to their specific situation. While PFAS is a strong focus for GHD, all of the contaminants included in this project are of equal importance due to their persistent and harmful nature in the environment.
As a country, the UK has only just begun to realise the potentially damaging effects of “forever chemicals” on the wider environment and particularly the harm exposed to both current and future generations. At GHD, we recognise that this is an extremely important issue, and we are proud to be leading the charge in this field with the Environment Agency, Enitial and a number of laboratories and other consultancies.
We have extensive experience working on assessing PFAS in Australia, where the impacts on communities and the environment are more widely understood, and we are committed to continuing our R&D efforts to help the UK better understand this group of emerging contaminants and how their environmental impact can be mitigated. It is also our hope that the developments we are making will support the Environment Agency in its development of legislation and monitoring tools to manage existing or prevent further contamination.”
Descriptions of Lots
Lot 1 - Targeted sampling and assessment of non-hazardous raw and treated leachates, gas condensates and bio-solids (sludges) from a variety of on-site leachate treatment plants to evaluate percentage removal of PFAS and POP substances.
Lot 2 - Assessment of PFAS and POPs in non-hazardous landfill leachate compared to other sources within domestic and industrial wastewaters.
Lot 3 - Assessment of PFAS and POPs emissions/releases from non-hazardous landfill leachates to surface and groundwaters from unlined and lined non-hazardous landfills.
Lot 4 - Study of a PFAS suite and other trace gas emissions from non-hazardous landfills.
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About GHD
GHD is a leading professional services company operating in the global markets of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation. Committed to a vision to make water, energy, and communities sustainable for generations to come, GHD delivers advisory, digital, engineering, architecture, environmental and construction solutions to public and private sector clients. Established in 1928 and privately owned by its people, GHD’s network of 11,000+ professionals are connected across more than 160 offices located on five continents.