PFAS regulations are tightening — and water-intensive industries are under increasing pressure to respond.
Across Europe, the United States, and other global markets, regulators are introducing stricter limits on PFAS in drinking water, wastewater, and industrial effluents. For organisations operating complex water systems, PFAS is no longer a future regulatory concern, but a near-term operational and compliance challenge.
PFAS can be present in raw materials, processing aids, infrastructure, wastewater streams, or extended supply chains. In many cases, their presence is neither obvious nor easy to detect — and removing them is rarely straightforward. As regulatory scrutiny increases, uncertainty around where to start is becoming a material business risk.
Why PFAS is such a complex problem
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are not a single chemical, but a broad class of thousands of fluorinated compounds. Many are extremely persistent in the environment and resistant to conventional treatment processes.
From an operational and compliance perspective, this creates several challenges:
- PFAS may exist in unexpected or legacy locations within systems
- Detection methods vary widely in cost, sensitivity, and regulatory acceptance
- Replacement of PFAS-containing materials is often technically complex or not yet feasible
- Some remediation technologies transfer PFAS rather than destroy them, creating downstream waste and liability
As a result, many organisations are aware of PFAS risks, but unsure how to take defensible, proportionate action.
The risk of waiting for regulatory clarity
A common response to PFAS uncertainty is delay.
Organisations wait for clearer regulatory thresholds, definitive analytical methods, or a “best” treatment technology. However, many PFAS-related decisions — including infrastructure upgrades, material substitution, and treatment system deployment — have long lead times.
Waiting for perfect clarity can result in reactive decision-making later, often under regulatory, reputational, or commercial pressure.
Early action does not mean rushing into expensive solutions. It means understanding PFAS exposure, available options, and constraints early enough to make informed, strategic choices.
A structured, science-led approach to PFAS management
Rather than treating PFAS as a single technical problem, a growing number of experts advocate a system-level, science-led approach.
Sagentia Innovation has published a new white paper that sets out a structured four-step PFAS management model designed to help organisations move from analysis paralysis to action.
The framework focuses on the following stages:
1. Identifying PFAS sources
Understanding where PFAS may exist across systems, materials, equipment, effluents, and supply chains — including indirect or legacy sources that may not be immediately visible.
2. Assessing replacement options
Evaluating when PFAS can realistically be replaced, where alternatives exist, and where substitution may introduce new technical, safety, or performance risks.
3. Selecting appropriate detection methods
Comparing current and emerging PFAS detection approaches, including their strengths, limitations, costs, and alignment with evolving regulatory expectations.
4. Evaluating removal and remediation pathways
Reviewing PFAS treatment options — from adsorption and separation technologies to emerging destruction methods — and understanding the trade-offs involved.
Importantly, the framework recognises that not all steps happen simultaneously. Sequencing decisions correctly can reduce cost, operational disruption, and regulatory exposure.
Why this matters now
PFAS regulation is evolving rapidly across multiple jurisdictions.
Increasingly, organisations are expected not only to meet current regulatory limits, but to demonstrate that they understand their PFAS risks and have a credible, long-term strategy for managing them.
In this context, the ability to explain why certain decisions were taken — and why others were deferred — is becoming as important as the technical outcomes themselves.
Who this guidance is for
This guidance is particularly relevant for:
- Water utilities and water treatment providers
- Industrial and manufacturing organisations with water-intensive processes
- Environmental, compliance, and sustainability leaders
- Technology developers working on PFAS detection or removal
Download the white paper
A practical, science-led guide to managing PFAS
Published by Sagentia Innovation, this white paper provides a clear, structured framework to help organisations:
- Understand where PFAS risks may exist
- Prioritise realistic, defensible actions
- Align technical decisions with evolving PFAS regulations
Published by Sagentia Innovation — independent science and technology advisors working at the intersection of chemistry, regulation, and industrial systems.
