PFAS contamination is no longer just a technical topic for specialists, it’s a growing issue affecting water systems, communities, and industries across North America. These synthetic chemicals have been used for decades in everything from firefighting foam to non-stick cookware. And now, we’re seeing the consequences: PFAS in groundwater, rivers, soil, and even in our bodies.

These chemicals, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are often called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down easily. They persist in the environment and can build up over time, leading to long-term exposure risks. And when PFAS enters a water system, removing it becomes one of the biggest challenges in modern water treatment.

In this article, we’ll walk through what PFAS is, and why it’s so difficult to remove. We’ll explore why strong pretreatment, especially in field-based and remediation settings, is a critical part of any real PFAS treatment plan.

What Is PFAS?

PFAS are a group of thousands of man-made chemicals that have been in use since the 1940s. They were created for their resistance to heat, water, and oil, making them perfect for stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, waterproof clothing, and fire suppression.

But their chemical structure, which makes them so good at resisting breakdown, also makes them extremely persistent. PFAS don’t degrade like most pollutants. Instead, they travel through water, soil, and air, remaining intact for years. They’ve been found in surface water, groundwater, wildlife, and even human blood.

In Canada and the U.S., many contaminated sites are linked to industrial zones, airports, and military bases, places where firefighting foam and industrial runoff were once heavily used. Cleaning up these sites has become a top priority for water treatment teams, environmental consultants, and local governments.

Why PFAS Is So Hard to Remove

The challenge lies in the chemistry. PFAS molecules are very small and extremely stable. They dissolve in water and don’t clump together like sediments or organic materials typically do. So when water treatment systems try to filter them out, PFAS often slip right through.

Traditional methods like sedimentation, sand filtration, or even flocculation aren’t designed to capture such tiny, chemically resistant compounds. These methods work well for removing particles and visible turbidity, but PFAS requires a different approach.

That’s why advanced treatment technologies are used for PFAS, including:

1. Granular Activated Carbon (GAC)
2. Ion Exchange (IX) Resins
3. Reverse Osmosis (RO) Membranes

Each of these systems has been proven effective at removing various types of PFAS, but they also come with limitations. GAC needs frequent replacement or regeneration. IX resins can become saturated and lose efficiency if not carefully managed. RO systems use a lot of energy and produce highly concentrated waste streams that must be handled separately.

What’s more, all of these systems perform best when the water going in is already clean. If there’s too much sediment, organic matter, or hydrocarbon contamination, the PFAS filters become clogged or wear out faster, leading to higher costs and more downtime.

Why Pretreatment Still Matters

This is where pretreatment becomes essential. While pretreatment can’t remove PFAS itself, it clears the way for PFAS-targeting systems to do their job effectively. By removing the things that GAC, IX, or RO can’t handle well, like sediment, oils, metals, and other particulates, pretreatment keeps the system running smoothly.

Flocculants are a key part of this stage. They work by binding together fine particles in water, forming larger clumps (called flocs) that are easier to remove. With the right flocculant, you can reduce turbidity, settle out clay and fine solids, and lower the amount of organic material in the water.

This step is especially important in mobile or field-based PFAS systems. In places like oilfields, remote remediation sites, or contaminated infrastructure zones, setting up large, power-hungry systems isn’t always feasible. A fast, reliable pretreatment step can make all the difference in keeping the treatment process running efficiently from the start.

Pretreatment also helps with regulatory compliance. As governments tighten PFAS limits, especially for discharge and drinking water standards, system performance becomes critical. By reducing the contaminant load before advanced treatment begins, flocculants give operators more control, fewer shutdowns, and a better shot at staying within limits.

Tigerfloc Flocculant. Your Solution for PFAS

If you’re planning or managing a PFAS treatment system, don’t underestimate the importance of the first step. A strong pretreatment process makes everything that follows more effective and more reliable.

That’s where TigerFloc comes in. Designed for field use, it works in under a minute to remove turbidity, suspended solids, hydrocarbons, and organic matter, no matter the water conditions. It’s compact, fast, and proven in tough environments.

When you’re building a PFAS treatment strategy, make sure your foundation is strong. Start with the flocculant that sets your system up for success.

Visit flocsystems.com to learn more.

Conclusion

PFAS is one of the most difficult contaminants to deal with, but it’s not impossible. With the right setup, you can build a water treatment system that works efficiently, protects your investment, and meets today’s tightening environmental standards. It all starts with a clean foundation, and that’s where pretreatment plays a key role.

In our next article, we’ll dive deeper into this often-overlooked step. You’ll learn why pretreatment is the missing piece in most PFAS systems, what can go wrong without it, and how to build a smarter approach from the ground up. Keep reading to get the full picture.