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Water Reuse Europe Webinar | PFAS Challenges in Water Reuse: Science, Regulation, and Solutions
Join us on 11 December 2025 for Water Reuse Europe’s next webinar, focusing on PFAS Challenges in Water Reuse: Science, Regulation, and Solutions.
This session will bring together leading experts to discuss the challenges posed by PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in water reuse projects. You will gain insights into the latest scientific developments, regulatory frameworks, and practical solutions for managing PFAS in reuse systems.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, engage, and exchange ideas about a pressing topic in the water reuse sector!
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This webinar is ideal for:
- Water professionals and project developers
- Industry leaders and solution providers
- Technology suppliers and policy makers
- Researchers, consultants, and end-users interested in water reuse
REGISTRATION
Registrations are now closed for this webinar.
PROGRAMME
**Please note that the timings below are in CET**
14:00 – 14:10
Welcome and introduction
Marie Raffin | Director and Chairperson of the Water Reuse Europe Board of Directors.
14:10 – 14:30
John Fawell | Visiting Professor, Water Science Institute, Cranfield University, UK & Member of the WHO Expert Group on the Drinking Water Guidelines.
Presentation: PFAS – A complication for re-use of wastewater.
Abstract: PFAS have been widely used for many years in industrial and consumer settings. They are persistent to very persistent in the environment and are relatively water soluble. The long chain compounds PFOS and PFOA are now banned but are still widely found in water and these are being replaced by shorter chain PFAS. They will continue to be found in wastewater and the standards being set for drinking water are a significant challenge for both analysis and for treatment. However, although there are potentially very many of these substances only a limited number are being regularly found in water and at varying concentrations. A challenge for regulators and water companies is that the data on the possible health effects are very sparse for the majority.
While they can be removed from wastewater there are other issues regarding waste streams and also sludge from wastewater; already very precautionary limits are being placed on sludge to land. There has been significant push back against drinking water standards that are considered to be too precautionary and WHO is currently carrying out a project, supported by the European Commission, to re-evaluate the health data on PFAS to determine appropriate health-based values.
Short biography:
John Fawell has worked in the field of drinking water quality for over 40 years, first at the UK Water Research Centre and later as an independent consultant. He has been involved in
research on and risk assessment of a wide range of drinking water contaminants and constituents. He has been a member of the team working on the WHO Guidelines for drinking water quality since 1986 and is an author on many WHO advisory and supporting documents. He remains a member of the WHO expert committee on the Guidelines and works closely with WHO regional offices, particularly European Office through which he was one of the main authors of the advisory document for the European Commission on the revision of the European drinking water directive. Professor Fawell is a visiting professor at Cranfield University Institute for Water Science and has provided advice to governments in many parts of the world.
14:30 – 14:50
Roberta Hofman-Caris, Principal Scientist Water Treatment & Resource Recovery, KWR, Netherlands.
Presentation: Chemical degradation of PFAS in aqueous solutions by advanced reduction and anodic oxidation
Abstract: Effective techniques for PFAS removal from aqueous solutions are membrane filtration, foam fractionation and adsorption onto activated carbon or ion exchange resins. In many cases, this results in the formation of a concentrated PFAS solution, either directly or after e.g. regeneration of the resins. If these solutions aren’t properly treated, PFAS may be returned into the environment, and thus the PFAS problem won’t be solved. It is essential that the C-F bond is broken, to really remove PFAS from the environment and water sources. There are some techniques that can be used to degrade/mineralize PFAS, like advanced reduction and anodic oxidation. However, their efficiency is affected by the matrix composition. In this presentation the effectiveness of some advanced reduction processes and of anodic oxidation will be discussed.
Short Biography: 
Roberta Hofman-Caris studied chemical engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology, where she obtained her PhD in polymer chemistry. Subsequently she workedin industrial research for 19 years, and then moved to KWR Water Research Institute. She works in the team Water treatment and resource recovery, with main focus on organic micropollutants, oxidation/reduction reactions and adsorption processes. Besides this, she is an associate professor water at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, and a visiting scientist at Wageningen University and Research (Environmental Engineering).
14:50 – 15:00 – Comfort Break
15:00 – 15:20
Valérie Léveillé, Waters treatment engineer, WSP, Canada.
Presentation: Electro-Oxidation system TO Destroy PFAS and remove perchlorate
Abstract: We will present a solution to the long-term discussed problem in the literature or in the industry of the use of the electro-oxidation (EO) for the destruction of PFAS while perchlorate is produced as a EO by-product. We will present the BDD EO process. Afterward, a few selected lab-scale EO treatment results will be presented which highlight the operating conditions and water characteristics in which a synergy was found between the EO destruction process of PFAS and prevention and elimination processes of perchlorate, a well-known EO undesired by-products. We will present a case where up to 95% of the total mass of detected PFAS was achieved cost-effectively with the BDD EO process. In another case, we will present lab-scale results where individual PFAS were removed to undetectable level (>99.9%). Then, we will present a novel 2-step process to remove perchlorate from water. We will formulate hypothesis as why this 2-step process to remove perchlorate is synergetic. Finally, we will present pilot-scale results of the BDD EO process to destroy PFAS and remove perchlorate to show that this process is scalable and conclude with upcoming full-scale applications for this novel BDD EO process to destroy PFAS and remove perchlorate in groundwater.
Short Biography: 
Dr. Léveillé a bachelor’s and master’s degrees and a PhD in chemical engineering. She has 17 years of experience as a waters and wastewater treatment engineer. During her career, Dr. Léveillé has developed and optimized treatment for domestic wastewater, drinking, industrial, ground and surface waters for homes, isolated communities, ships, military bases, schools, train, garage, mines, food and cosmetic industries and rendering plants. She is leading the development of the PFASER, an electro-oxidation process for PFAS destruction in waters. She is co-author of 4 patents and 1 patent pending as well as 20 peer‑review papers, conference proceedings, and presentations.
15:20 – 15:40
Jason S. Dadakis | Executive Director Water Quality and Technical Resources | Orange County Water District, USA.
Presentation: Remove, Concentrate, and Destroy: Orange County’s Ongoing Journey to Manage PFAS in Potable Reuse and Local Groundwater Supplies
Abstract: The Orange County Water District (OCWD) located in southern California sustainably manages its local groundwater basin on behalf of 2.5 million residents served by 19 major public water systems and other well owners. The District operates a large managed aquifer recharge (MAR) program, a key component of which is the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) project that represents the largest planned indirect potable reuse project in the world with a production capacity of 492,000 m3/day. The GWRS project’s reverse osmosis (RO) process has proven to be very effective for the removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) known tooccur in most treated municipal wastewaters. However, other sources of MAR historically employed by the District, including stormwater and effluent-dominated surface water, have introduced PFAS into local the local groundwater supply. In response, OCWD has implemented a large-scale wellhead PFAS treatment program in partnership with local water systems, largely employing single use anion exchange (AIX) resin technology. For long-term management of PFAS residuals in RO concentrate from GWRS and in spent AIX resin from municipal groundwater treatment, OCWD has explored a range of destructive technologies including electrochemical oxidation (EO) and super critical water oxidation (SCWO).
Short Biography: 
Jason Dadakis is the Executive Director of Water Quality and Technical Resources for Orange County Water District (OCWD). There he oversees water quality programs, analytical laboratory testing, regulatory compliance, and applied research in support of the District’s groundwater management activities and recycled water projects. Jason has helped lead OCWD’s response to PFAS contamination in local groundwater supplies, which includes a service area wellhead treatment capital improvement program, public outreach, expanded monitoring, cost recovery litigation, and coordination with a CDC- funded local epidemiological study.
15:40 – 15:50 Discussion
15:20 – 15:40 Concluding remarks.
Marie Raffin | Director and Chairperson of the Water Reuse Europe Board of Directors.
About Water Reuse Europe
Water Reuse Europe (WRE) is the industry association for the European water reuse sector, offering a range of benefits and opportunities for both commercial and public organisations involved in water reuse scheme design, operation, and regulation. As we see significant growth in the number of industrial, agricultural, and municipal water reuse schemes across Europe, it is increasingly important that professionals and organisations working in the sector have opportunities to exchange experiences, advance knowledge and understanding, and develop a unified voice on important issues. WRE’s mission is to promote and support the sharing of good practices, knowledge, techniques, research, and experiences on water reuse and to advance its safe and effective exploitation in Europe.
Being a member of Water Reuse Europe enables companies, public bodies, trade associations and research institutions to take advantage of stimulating opportunities for knowledge exchange, advocacy, and education. It provides organisations with access to news and information about the latest developments in the reuse market and enables them to take advantage of specialist conferences, seminars, and workshops.