What EPA’s 2026 Interim Guidance on PFAS Destruction Means for Municipal Water Systems

The U.S. EPA’s 2026 Interim Guidance on PFAS Destruction and Disposal represents an important shift in how communities’ approach PFAS — moving beyond removal alone and toward full lifecycle responsibility.

For municipal water providers, this guidance comes at a critical time. While regulatory limits are driving action, many utilities are still in the evaluation phase, assessing which treatment technologies best balance capital cost, performance, and long-term operational impact.

This makes one question especially important:

Moving Beyond Removal in the Evaluation Phase

Most municipalities are not yet operating full-scale PFAS treatment systems. Instead, they are actively evaluating options such as granular activated carbon (GAC), ion exchange (IX), and other emerging technologies.

Historically, these evaluations have focused heavily on:

These factors remain critical. However, the EPA’s guidance introduces another layer of consideration:

For utilities making long-term infrastructure decisions, this has direct implications for:

• Future regulatory compliance
• Residuals handling and disposal costs
• Environmental liability
• Public trust and transparency

Granular activated carbon has long been a trusted technology in municipal water treatment, with a strong track record for removing PFAS and other organic contaminants.

In the context of the EPA’s latest guidance, GAC offers an additional advantage through its compatibility with thermal reactivation — a well-established process aligned with the agency’s focus on high-temperature destruction.

For municipalities evaluating treatment options, this translates to:

• Proven infrastructure: Reactivation is performed at permitted facilities with decades of operational experience
• High-temperature treatment: Conditions designed to break down contaminants, including PFAS
• Controlled process: Facilities operate with emissions controls and regulatory oversight
• Media reuse: Reactivated carbon can be returned to service, reducing waste and supporting long-term cost efficiency

This creates a more complete treatment pathway — one that not only removes PFAS from water, but also provides a defined and managed approach to destruction.

Ion exchange resins are also a strong contender in PFAS treatment evaluations and may offer advantages depending on system conditions, including:

• High removal efficiency for certain PFAS compounds
• Smaller system footprint
• Operational flexibility in specific applications

However, as with GAC, IX generates a concentrated waste stream that must be addressed.

Common end-of-life pathways for IX resins may include:

• Landfill disposal
• Off-site treatment or incineration

The EPA’s guidance places increasing importance on understanding the certainty and transparency of these downstream pathways — a factor that municipalities should weigh alongside performance and cost during the evaluation process.

PFAS treatment investments are long-term commitments, often spanning decades. Decisions made today will influence not only compliance, but also operational costs and community perception well into the future.

As a result, municipalities are increasingly looking beyond upfront costs to consider:

• Lifecycle cost and media replacement frequency
• Residuals handling and transportation logistics
• Confidence in destruction or disposal methods
• Regulatory acceptance of selected pathways
• Ratepayer impact over time

Technologies that offer clarity across the full lifecycle — from removal through destruction — can help reduce uncertainty as guidance continues to evolve.

A Balanced, Site-Specific Approach

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for PFAS treatment.

Each municipality must evaluate options based on:

• Source water quality
• PFAS concentrations and profiles
• Existing infrastructure
• Budget constraints and funding opportunities
• Regulatory timelines

GAC, IX, and emerging technologies all have a role to play. The key is selecting the approach that best aligns with both current needs and future expectations.

Supporting Municipal Utilities Through the Evaluation Process

As local representatives for Calgon Carbon, we work with municipalities during this evaluation phase to provide data-driven guidance and practical insight.

While GAC paired with thermal reactivation offers a proven and increasingly aligned solution with EPA’s direction, our focus is on helping utilities make informed decisions based on their specific system requirements.

EPA’s interim guidance signals a broader shift in PFAS management — toward greater accountability, transparency, and emphasis on destruction, not just removal.

For municipalities still evaluating their options, this is a critical opportunity to take a forward-looking approach — selecting treatment strategies that are not only effective today, but sustainable for the future.