Abstract
A life‐cycle assessment (LCA) framework was used to estimate environmental impacts likely to occur during the removal and destruction of per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater effluent. Results suggest that upgrades to remove and destroy PFAS from municipal water resource recovery facility (WRRF) effluents could double or triple total greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater facilities, as well as other human and environmental health impacts. Sensitivity of environmental impacts to selected system parameters was also evaluated, highlighting the benefits of granular activated carbon (GAC) reactivation/reuse and use of renewable energy sources. LCA results were translated into “impact curves” to predict environmental impacts of effluent PFAS treatment based on facility size and technologies applied. Overall, these results enable estimation of secondary environmental impacts associated with PFAS treatment of wastewater effluent and can be used to support policy, permitting, and planning by regulatory agencies and utilities. Removing and destroying per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances(PFAS) from municipal water resource recovery facility (WRRF) effluent have both environmental benefits and environmental costs Preconcentrating effluent PFAS using reverse osmosis and reusing sorbent media reduced overall environmental impacts of sorptive treatment Removing and destroying PFAS from municipal WRRF effluent could double or triple greenhouse gas emissions, challenging wastewater net‐zero emission goals The social cost of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from PFAS treatment is estimated at one‐third to one‐tenth of previously estimated economic costs.