SGWASA Engineering Project
PFAS Mitigation
Advance pilot testing and engineering design for a long-term PFAS treatment solution to meet future regulatory requirements.
Budget:
$25M - $30M
Current Milestone:
SGWASA, NCDEQ, and State Funding
Phase 1 pilot testing was completed in December of 2025. Phase 2 grant awarded with the design underway.
At the October 14, 2025, Board meeting, Board members approved the CDM Smith Scope of Work and associated cost estimate for the project. The approved engineering design budget approved was $3,209,800. This project is funded by the $5,000,000 grant received. The engineering design work for the PFAS reduction technology has started.
The project team is advancing early design activities, including site evaluation, hydraulic assessment, and supporting investigations. A forthcoming Basis of Design Report and Pilot Study Addendum will provide lifecycle cost comparisons, an Opinion of Probable Construction Cost, and final media recommendations upon completion of the pilot study. Together, these deliverables position SGWASA to proceed confidently toward PFAS compliance while maintaining operational flexibility and readiness for future regulatory requirements.
Funding:
CDM Smith
South Granville Water & Sewer Authority’s PFAS Mitigation Strategies Program is a phased planning, pilot testing, and design initiative intended to position the Authority for compliance with emerging federal PFAS drinking water requirements while maintaining reliable service and prudent rate and capital planning. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), often called “forever chemicals,” are persistent compounds associated with a wide range of consumer and industrial products. SGWASA does not manufacture PFAS; however, PFAS have been detected in SGWASA’s source water, consistent with the widespread nature of these contaminants in the environment.
EPA Compliance Path
On April 10, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized enforceable drinking water standards for six PFAS compounds, including PFOA and PFOS with Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) as low as 4 parts per trillion, and established a Hazard Index approach for certain PFAS mixtures. Under the rule’s framework:
- Initial PFAS monitoring must be completed by 2027
- If standards are exceeded, corrective actions must be implemented by April 2029
- Public notification requirements apply to violations beginning in 2029
This program is structured to confirm treatment performance through pilot testing, select the most appropriate PFAS reduction technology for SGWASA’s water quality and operational conditions, and advance engineering design and construction readiness on a timeline aligned with the federal compliance deadlines.
PFAS reduction for drinking water applications is typically achieved using one or more of the following proven treatment processes: Granular Activated Carbon (GAC), Reverse Osmosis (RO), and Ion Exchange (IX).
Planning-level treatment costs were estimated at approximately $2 to $4 per gallon, which applied to SGWASA’s permitted capacity of 7.5 million gallons per day (MGD) equates to an anticipated capital investment range of approximately $15 to $30 million. Technology selection is being evaluated not only on PFAS removal performance, but also on construction feasibility, footprint, operational complexity, residuals handling, lifecycle costs, and long-term maintainability for SGWASA staff and infrastructure.
Learn More
This section provides supporting documents and media related to the project. The resources below consolidate key information on the project and closely connected topics that inform planning, compliance, and coordination.
PFAS Executive Summary
Final PFAS Mitigation Report From CDM Smith
An ATSDR report, also known as a Public Health Assessment or Health Consultation, is a report by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry summarizing an investigation of environmental contaminants and their potential health effects on a specific community.
The report provides information on health data, environmental data, and ATSDR's conclusions about the likelihood of harm to human health from exposure to site-related contaminants.
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