From PFAS source attribution to collaborative management in a One Water system

Abstract

A major barrier to preventing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from entering drinking water supplies is identifying and quantifying their upstream sources, particularly in One Water systems that integrate diverse water inputs. Here we combine high-frequency measurements with mass-balance analysis to quantify PFAS and major-ion loading to the Occoquan Reservoir, a drinkingwater supply serving one million people in Northern Virginia, USA. Mass-balance analysis at the confluence of watershed inflows and treated wastewater inputs reveals seasonally varying contributions from domestic wastewater, watershed runoff, and a single significant industrial user (SIU) of the sanitary sewer system. A one-month, system-scale diversion of SIU effluent confirms this source attribution for several short-chain PFAS and major ions, with concentration deficits closely matching withheld mass. These results demonstrate that traditional mass-balance approaches can inform collaborative management of PFAS contamination in One Water systems.