PFAS remediation helps restore groundwater to help protect communities
Across the US, communities depend on underground aquifers for safe drinking water, but decades of industrial activity have left many groundwater systems impacted with chemicals that can persist for generations. Chlorinated solvents and emerging contaminants like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pose significant challenges because they can travel long distances underground, threaten public water supplies, and require highly specialised treatment technologies. As groundwater is one of society’s most important resources, restoring it helps protect public health, preserve community confidence, and secure safe water for future generations.
At the Fair Lawn Well Field Superfund site in Bergen County, New Jersey, historical industrial operations including pharmaceutical production and manufacturing activities have led to groundwater impacts affecting municipal drinking water wells. The site contains a complex mixture of substances, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 1,4-dioxane, and PFAS such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA). These chemicals migrated through both shallow soils and deeper bedrock aquifers, creating a large, commingled plume extending beyond the original source areas and threatening critical drinking water resources.
Providing a science-based and resilient remedy to treat legacy and emerging contaminants
Since 2020, Ramboll has supported Fisher Scientific and Sandvik in advancing a comprehensive remediation program designed to contain, treat, and ultimately reduce impacts within the aquifer system. The project began with extensive pre-design investigations to close data gaps, characterise groundwater conditions, and better understand the distribution of impacts across the site.
The team conducted groundwater and surface water sampling, aquifer testing, ecological assessments, and advanced groundwater flow and chemical transport modelling. These efforts provided the scientific basis for designing an effective and resilient remedial strategy.
A key component of the work was the development of a groundwater capture and treatment approach capable of addressing both legacy constituents and emerging PFAS. Modelling studies evaluated multiple pumping scenarios and confirmed that the existing municipal well system could play a central role in plume capture while minimising the risk of continued chemical migration.
Ramboll evaluated technologies to remove the diverse range of legacy chemicals present at the site, selecting a solution that combined advanced oxidation using ultraviolet light and hydrogen peroxide with liquid activated granular carbon treatment. Together, these technologies provide treatment for VOCs, 1,4-dioxane, and PFAS before treated water is discharged or returned for beneficial use.
The resulting groundwater treatment plant is designed to process up to 300 gallons per minute from four municipal supply wells. Since mid- 2025, the plant has effectively treated groundwater to meet the Record of Decision (ROD) goals, demonstrating the remedy’s performance and long-term value. By helping contain and treat legacy chemicals alongside emerging PFAS, Ramboll is supporting the restoration of a critical drinking water resource and reducing risks beyond the site boundaries.
Throughout the project lifecycle, Ramboll experts delivered multidisciplinary engineering services spanning civil, structural, geotechnical, mechanical, electrical, architectural, instrumentation, controls, and SCADA systems, as well as design, construction, quality assurance, and commissioning activities.