SAFF® Applications: Sewage
The Sewage Solution
Building on its proven success in remediating PFAS from complex water matrices such as landfill leachate and industrial wastewaters, Surface Active Foam Fractionation (SAFF®) is now extending its technical capability to the sewage environment. SAFF® is uniquely able to remediate PFAS from both the aqueous and biosolid phases; a global challenge that has historically lacked a practical, scalable and cost effective solution.
SAFF harnesses the hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties of PFAS compounds, which naturally attach to rising air bubbles. By exploiting this behaviour, the system physically separates and concentrates PFAS from the sewage medium. This capability represents a significant environmental engineering breakthrough, where SAFF is able to operate effectively despite the high percentages of solids, PFAS concentrations and co-contaminants in sewage.
Performance
demonstrated through trials
Exceptional results have led to the implementation of full‑scale sewage trials in both Australia and the USA. Early field data indicates that SAFF® is comfortably exceeding
Australian NEPM 3.0 regulatory requirements for PFAS removal, with results to be released in the coming months.
>97%
removal of Σ PFAS (30)
from the aqueous phase
>99%
removal of C6 and above
from the aqueous phase
>80%
removal of Σ PFAS (30)
from biosolids phase
>97%
removal of Σ PFAS (30)
from the aqueous phase
>99%
removal of C6 and above
from the aqueous phase
>80%
removal of Σ PFAS (30)
from bioslids
Get in touch to explore PFAS treatment for your facility
How Does The SAFF® Process Work?
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How Does The SAFF® Process Work?
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A practical, future‑proof solution for utilities
For wastewater treatment operators and utilities, SAFF® provides a robust and practical method for removing both long and short chain PFAS from the sewage medium. This allows operators to meet today’s regulatory expectations and to adapt confidently as guidelines tighten and monitoring expands across the sector.
Regardless of the water matrix, SAFF® continues to deliver universal benefits valued by operators:
Modular, scalable design:
Enabling SAFF® to be configured for large‑scale sewage treatment plants requiring higher daily throughput.
Minimal secondary waste:
The SAFF process generates small volumes of PFAS rich
hyper‑concentrate suitable for closed‑loop or off-site destruction.
Inbuilt remote telemetry:
24/7 service provides oversight and optimisation by our technical team.
Plug‑and‑play deployment:
Rapid integration into existing wastewater treatment infrustructure with minimal disruption.
Breaking the PFAS cycle
Removing PFAS at sewage treatment plants protects waterways and helps prevent PFAS accumulation in agricultural systems.
SAFF® technology is uniquely positioned to support this shift.
By targeting PFAS and co-contaminants such as microplastics within sewage streams, SAFF® enables:
- Effective removal of PFAS before environmental release
- Safe and beneficial reuse of biosolids in agriculture
- Reduction of multiple co-contaminants
Why is PFAS management at sewage sites important?
Sewage treatment plants are among the most strategic intervention points in the global PFAS challenge. Addressing PFAS at these sites helps protect ecosystems, safeguard agricultural land, and reduce long-term human exposure.
A global blind spot
PFAS enters sewer networks from households, industry, commercial premises, and stormwater inflows.
Worldwide, more than 60,000 wastewater treatment plants process municipal sewage. These facilities were designed to treat wastewater, not remove PFAS, meaning much of it passes through untreated.
Around 400 billion litres of treated effluent re‑enters the environment daily, and research shows a strong likelihood that it carries PFAS. In addition, more than 100,000 tonnes of PFAS-affected biosolids are generated daily, with a significant percentage of this material applied to agricultural land as fertiliser.
Once released, PFAS becomes highly diluted, widely dispersed, and impossible to recover. Without intervention, it continues cycling through water, soil, crops, livestock, and ultimately people.
Although upstream controls play an important role in reducing PFAS at the source, these substances inevitably make their way into sewer networks. As passive receivers of this contamination, sewage treatment plants sit at a critical, centralised point in the cycle, making them one of the most effective locations to address PFAS before it re-enters the environment.
Looking to manage PFAS in sewage or wastewater?
Speak with our team to understand what’s possible.
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