19257_Authority_June_2026

28 The Authority │ June C ONFRONTING ‘F OREVER C HEMICALS ’ How a Pennsylvania Airport Project is Guiding Municipal Authorities through PFAS Challenges By JHA Companies, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania M unicipal authorities across Pennsylvania are entering a new era of water system management—one defined by the emergence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals.” These compounds, engineered for stability and resistance to heat, water, and oil, are now among the most challenging contaminants facing public water systems. Unlike traditional contaminants, PFAS do not readily degrade in the environment. Once introduced into groundwater, they can migrate rapidly and persist for decades, creating long-term risks for drinking water supplies. For municipal authorities, this is not simply a treatment issue. It is a system-wide challenge that affects planning, compliance, funding, and public confidence. “PFAS doesn’t break down. It migrates, accumulates, and forces us to rethink how we plan and operate our systems long- term.” – Pete Fleszar, PE, Project Leader at JHA Companies. As regulatory agencies continue to tighten limits on PFAS compounds such as PFOS and PFOA, authorities of all sizes are facing increased scrutiny. Monitoring requirements are expanding, and compliance expectations are being incorporated into routine permit renewals. “We’re seeing a major shift,” says Travis Long, CEP, Vice President and Director of Environmental Services at JHA Companies. “Systems that historically had limited regulatory oversight are now being required to test, plan, and act. Authorities need to be proactive, not reactive, when it comes to PFAS.” From Legacy Contamination to Modern Treatment Innovation: International Airport A recent project involving an international airport in Pennsylvania highlights both the challenges and opportunities associated with PFAS remediation. When PFAS compounds were detected above advisory levels in the system’s groundwater supply, immediate action was required. The project is a compelling example of how infrastructure owners are responding to PFAS contamination in real time. Serving airport operations, commercial tenants, and support facilities, the system operates as a non-transient, non-community water supply with an average production of approximately 120,000 gallons per day. Originally constructed in 1990 to address volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using air stripping, the treatment plant system was not designed to remove PFAS, an issue that would emerge decades later and lead to a project that spanned 10-years. The Turning Point: PFAS Discovery In 2014, PFOS was detected above health advisory limits at the interconnection point with a neighboring system, triggering immediate operational and regulatory responses: Continued on page 54.