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PFAS in Wastewater and Sludge

PFAS information related to facilities that treat wastewater and sludge.
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Overview

Facilities that treat wastewater that is discharged to surface water hold National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits and state Surface Water Discharge (SWD) Permits.  In Massachusetts, EPA and MassDEP both regulate these facilities.

Sludge is a byproduct of wastewater treatment. MassDEP regulates the sale, use, and distribution of sludge and septage for land application in Massachusetts according to 310 CMR 32.00. Sludge and septage regulated according to 310 CMR 32.00 are referred to as “residuals” and “biosolids” and are subject to an Approval of Suitability, which classifies residuals for different uses based on chemical quality and treatment to reduce pathogens. Information about the residuals program is available at the Residuals and Biosolids webpage.

Both NPDES Permits and Approvals of Suitability include PFAS testing requirements. The data is uploaded to a public portal.

Industrial facilities

Industrial facilities may be required to test for PFAS if the facility holds a NPDES/SWD permit, or if the industrial facility discharges to a Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) that holds a NPDES/SWD permit. Industries looking to decrease PFAS use can contact Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance and Technology (OTA) for free and confidential pollution prevention assistance.

More information about PFAS monitoring for industrial facilities and how to work with OTA can be found on the MassDEP PFAS in Industrial Discharges page.

Projects

Sludge Study (PFAS and Residuals Technology and Management Study)

In 2024 MassDEP awarded 2 contracts to analyze sludge disposal and reuse capacity in and outside of the Commonwealth.  These contracts are collectively referred to as the PFAS and Residuals Technology and Management Study (“Sludge and Septage Study”). Part 1 focuses on the current and near-term destinations for Massachusetts sludge and septage and was conducted between February and June 2024. Part 2 focuses on the intersection of sludge and PFAS, including how legislative and policy decisions regulating PFAS may affect sludge disposal capacity, and PFAS reduction and destruction technologies. The Part 2 contract was awarded 5/1/24 with expected completion in early 2025. A stakeholder meeting is expected to occur in Fall 2024, and a final report will be published for both studies.

Part 1 Overview

Part 1 focuses on the current and near-term destinations of Massachusetts sludge.  This includes information surveyed from wastewater treatment plants, sludge disposal facilities, and septage disposal facilities to determine: volume of sludge and septage produced in Massachusetts currently and in 5 years, the cost of sludge/septage disposal currently and in 5 years, and the capacity of sludge/septage disposal options.

Part 1 Included the Following Reports:

Part 2 Overview

Part 2 focuses on the intersection of sludge and PFAS.  It includes PFAS reduction and management technologies for wastewater and sludge, contributions of PFAS into POTWs (Indirect Discharges), PFAS impacts on sludge disposal methods as well as options for POTWs and regulators to consider. 

Part 2 Included the Following Reports:

MassDEP PFAS Testing Study for NPDES POTWs

The study sampled all 114 Massachusetts municipal wastewater treatment plants in the NPDES program. It is the first comprehensive study of wastewater PFAS across Massachusetts.

Analysis of PFAS in Massachusetts Rivers with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), August to November 2020

Sampling sites were located upstream or downstream of discharges from 24 wastewater treatment facilities and at 16 other stream sites, including sites downstream of suspected nonpoint and industrial sources and at sites not associated with suspected PFAS sources.

Stakeholder Meetings

Find more information about past and upcoming PFAS in Wastewater and Sludge Stakeholder meetings. Please send questions and comments to massdep.npdes@mass.gov. 

More information

For more information:

For more information about MassDEP’s requirements for testing PFAS in Wastewater Facilities with NPDES-Permitted Discharges, contact the NPDES Program at massdep.npdes@mass.gov.

For more information about MassDEP’s residuals program, contact at massdep.residuals@mass.gov.

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