Recent reporting from Yale News has once again brought national attention to a growing reality: millions of Americans are drinking water contaminated with PFAS, and the treatment infrastructure needed to address it is falling behind.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are among the most persistent and widespread contaminants in modern water systems. Yet despite billions of dollars in federal investment and increasing regulatory scrutiny, most utilities still rely on outdated single-barrier solutions like granular activated carbon (GAC) or reverse osmosis (RO) alone, methods that can quickly become ineffective or economically unsustainable.
At Pinnacle Ozone Solutions, we believe there’s a better way: one that includes ozone as a critical pre-treatment or polishing component in a multi-barrier PFAS mitigation strategy.
The Problem: PFAS Removal Is Not Enough
The Yale article outlines what utilities already know:
- PFAS have been detected in over 45% of U.S. water systems
- The new federal MCLs for PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and PFBS require non-detect levels
- Legacy GAC systems designed for TOC, taste/odor, or DBPs are not optimized for PFAS
- Many PFAS species break through faster than expected or are masked by precursors
These systems often lack the oxidation barrier needed to manage PFAS-related organics, precursors, and co-contaminants. That’s where ozone comes in.
What Ozone Can and Cannot Do with PFAS
Ozone Can:
- Oxidize PFAS precursors, especially fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) and polyfluoroalkyl phosphates (PAPs), preventing in-situ PFAS formation
- Break down non-fluorinated co-contaminants that interfere with downstream GAC, IX, and RO
- Reduce total organic fluorine (TOF) and total PFAS precursor load
- Pre-treat for UV/H2O2 AOPs by shifting TOC profiles and improving hydroxyl radical yield
Ozone Cannot:
- Directly destroy long-chain PFAS like PFOA, PFOS, or PFHxS under typical conditions
- Replace carbon or membrane systems in achieving strict MCL targets
- Function effectively without integrated process design
“Ozone’s greatest potential in PFAS treatment is in the oxidation of precursors and the protection of primary treatment barriers.”
— Xiao et al. (2020), Environmental Science & Technology
Supporting Research
Multiple studies and pilot demonstrations have shown that ozone + AOP integration can:
- Reduce PFAS precursor conversion by 40–70%
- Improve GAC breakthrough times by 25–40%
- Lower RO membrane fouling and increase flux stability
- Increase PFAS removals when used before or after UV treatment
Sources: Trojan Technologies (2023), EPA Technical Brief: PFAS Treatment Trains (2024), EPRI Ozone-PFAS Precursor Study (2022)
Pinnacle’s Role in Smart PFAS Treatment Trains
At Pinnacle Ozone Solutions, we engineer precision oxidation systems that enhance PFAS performance across the treatment train. Our systems are designed to:
- Deliver controlled ozone dosing for precursor oxidation
- Integrate with UV, H2O2, or BAC to optimize radical generation
- Minimize ozone residuals to protect sensitive IX or membrane systems
- Collect real-time ORP, TOC, and UVT data to inform system adjustments
- Scale modularly for pilot studies or full-scale integration
We collaborate with PFAS remediation firms, GAC vendors, and consulting engineers to ensure ozone is used strategically, not generically.
Where Ozone Makes the Biggest Difference
Ozone is particularly impactful in:
- Source waters high in TOC or bromide, where carbon loads are elevated
- Blended surface + groundwater systems, where PFAS chemistry varies
- Reuse or IPR/DPR applications, where organics and precursors co-occur
- GAC or IX retrofits, where fouling or rapid breakthrough is a concern
It’s not about choosing ozone instead of PFAS removal—it’s about designing around ozone to make every other step more effective.
The ROI of Using Ozone with PFAS Treatment
| Benefit | Impact |
| GAC bed life extension | 25–40% longer run times before breakthrough |
| Reduced chemical consumption | Less need for peroxide or cleaning cycles |
| Higher membrane uptime | Reduced biofouling and particulate load |
| Lower O&M cost | Fewer media changeouts, lower waste volume |
Conclusion
PFAS regulation is tightening. The chemistry is complex. And the cost of doing nothing, or doing too little, is growing.
While ozone is not a silver bullet for PFAS, it is a proven and underutilized weapon in the broader treatment arsenal. It strengthens every part of the train, manages oxidation demands upstream, and prepares systems for future regulatory resilience.
At Pinnacle Ozone Solutions, we bring deep experience in ozone-based oxidation and advanced integration to help utilities face the PFAS challenge strategically, not reactively.
Technical References
- Xiao, F. et al. (2020). PFAS Precursors in the Environment: Role of Ozone and Hydroxyl Radicals. Environmental Science & Technology
- USEPA (2024). PFAS Treatment Train Optimization Technical Brief
- Trojan Technologies (2023). UV-Ozone Synergy in Advanced PFAS Treatment
- EPRI (2022). Pilot Evaluation of Ozone Pre-Treatment for GAC Longevity in PFAS Applications
- Langlais, Reckhow & Brink (1991). Ozone in Water Treatment: Application and Engineering
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