A major research initiative from Virginia Tech is setting a new precedent for how water utilities can confront PFAS contamination—a persistent, complex issue affecting drinking water systems across the U.S. The project is centered on Northern Virginia’s Occoquan Reservoir, a vital source of drinking water for nearly one million residents in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
The reservoir has surpassed the EPA’s limits for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are linked to serious health risks, including cancer and developmental issues. But instead of approaching PFAS mitigation piecemeal, the Virginia Tech-led team is piloting a watershed-scale solution that addresses multiple sources of contamination simultaneously.
At the core of this effort is the “One Water” framework, which treats all aspects of the water cycle—stormwater, wastewater, and drinking water—as parts of a single interconnected system. This integrated approach moves away from the siloed methods utilities have traditionally used and opens the door to more coordinated, cost-effective mitigation strategies.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.
