The U.S. military is testing new PFAS cleanup technologies that could soon be available to local governments.
The U.S. Department of Defense is funding large-scale demonstration projects to test new technologies that can treat and destroy PFAS contamination at military sites, with methods ranging from high-temperature thermal treatment and plasma torches to advanced chemical and filtration systems. These side-by-side pilots are designed to show which options actually work at scale in real-world conditions and are ready for broader commercial deployment.
For county governments — particularly those with nearby bases, PFAS-impacted landfills, or wastewater systems — these demos offer an early look at tools that could soon influence local cleanup strategies. Notably, companies that meet their performance commitments will receive a formal DoD “Success Memo,” a letter that can streamline future federal contracting and help bring those technologies into wider use — potentially including county-level applications for leachate, biosolids, and other PFAS-laden waste streams.
Check out: PFAS: What Are They? Why Do They Matter? What’s Next?
Check out: Managing Forever Chemicals: The Road Ahead for PFAS Policy
Check out: PFAS Treatment Technologies: Practical Tools and Considerations for Counties