Construction of a 1.4 million dollar activated carbon filtration facility carries out by the city services in the battle against PFAS contaminants.
In the industrial town of Willich, Germany, a modern activated carbon filtration plant is under construction. The facility, costing €1.4 million, is set to prevent future contamination of drinking water with Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).
The contamination of PFAS in Willich has been a recognised environmental issue, with its origins traced back to the use of firefighting foam. This incident led to an elevated PFAS contamination being discovered in the well of Anrath two years ago.
Immediate measures were taken by Stadtwerke/Wasserwerke, the local utility company, to reduce the contamination. Now, they are investing in a solution for the long term. The new facility will include eight parallel filter tanks, each with a volume of 20 cubic meters, spread across a plot of nearly 900 square meters.
The facility is not just designed to filter PFAS. It will also remove other unwanted substances like pesticides from the drinking water supply. The groundbreaking for this project has begun, and it is scheduled to be completed in December 2025.
The Stadtwerke are keen to understand how long the activated carbon can absorb PFAS before it needs to be regenerated during operation. Currently, there is no regeneration plan in place for the activated carbon. However, if the culprit behind the PFAS contamination is identified and compensation can be claimed, the price for households will decrease.
Regular measurements have been taken since the PFAS discovery, with values mostly below 100 nanograms. From 2026, the limit for 20 connections of the PFAS substance group will be 100 nanograms per liter, and from 2028, the limit for particularly problematic PFAS will be 20 nanograms.
The CEO of Stadtwerke/Wasserwerke, Tafil Pufja, has assured that the facility ensures compliance with the revised drinking water ordinance. The company's ongoing efforts demonstrate a commitment to providing safe and clean drinking water to the residents of Willich.
The facility is part of a broader strategy to address PFAS contamination in Willich. While specific historical details and future remediation plans are not yet available, the construction of this new plant is a significant step towards a cleaner and safer future for the town.
As the project progresses, residents can expect to see further updates and information from Stadtwerke/Wasserwerke and the relevant environmental authorities. The additional costs for operating the facility will be passed on to consumers via the water price, potentially amounting to approximately 20 euros more per household per year.
For more detailed updates on PFAS contamination in Willich and related infrastructure, it is recommended to check official environmental authority publications from Germany or the North Rhine-Westphalia state.
- The new activated carbon filtration plant in Willich is not only designed to eliminate Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) but also other unwanted substances such as pesticides from the drinking water supply, showing a broader interest in health-and-wellness and environmental-science.
- The facility, which includes the removal of PFAS and other contaminants, is part of an ongoing strategy by Stadtwerke/Wasserwerke to address climate-change issues related to water quality, demonstrating their commitment to science and the welfare of the town's residents.
