Artificial groundwater recharge – A shortcut for harmful poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) into groundwater systems and drinking water supplies – Can we avoid this?

In Sweden, artificial surface water infiltration into groundwater systems (artificial groundwater recharge) is widely applied to ensure sufficiently high groundwater quantities for drinking water supplies.

Of concern is the recent widespread detection of harmful poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) at high concentrations in surface waters being used for artificial groundwater recharge.

This raises the question if PFASs migrate into groundwater systems and drinking water supplies during artificial groundwater recharge posing a threat to human health.

To address this research question, this project aims to thoroughly determine the risk of PFASs infiltration into groundwater systems and drinking water during artificial groundwater recharge and to identify possible prevention options.

The project will be conducted using a multi-method approach including laboratory column experiments, field studies, and numerical modeling.

The project is of high societal relevance since it will reveal for the first time if PFASs migrate into drinking water via artificial groundwater recharge and how this PFASs input can be minimized to prevent the exposure of the Swedish population to these pollutants.

The evaluation of how the PFASs migration into drinking water supplies can be decreased during artificial groundwater recharge will also be beneficial to reduce costs for drinking water producers as expensive groundwater treatment procedures for PFASs removal can be potentially reduced.