Meeting the demands of six remote sites
Across six remote landfill sites, a single, replicable treatment solution was needed to handle a range of water chemistries and challenging operating conditions. Limited site access, unpredictable weather and changing influent quality meant the system had to be easy to install, run reliably without frequent visits and provide dependable data for local, state and federal requirements.
Building permanent structures or custom systems at each location would have added unnecessary time, cost and complexity before treatment could begin. Instead, the project called for a compact and repeatable system that could quickly transition from delivery to operation and give engineers and compliance teams confidence in consistent daily performance.
Containerized design reduced site concerns
Using a containerized system allowed the project team to cut down on construction work and speed up deployment. Standard shipping containers made it possible to skip expensive permanent buildings, streamline transportation and fit the system into the tight spaces typical of remote landfill sites.
Working alongside the client, Onterris selected the SORBIX™ M Series M6-Premium CentraPURE system and adapted it for the specific operating needs of the project. The design included a 100 gpm flow rate, two treatment containers, exterior tankage and a footprint that helped limit site preparation.
The system also used a programmable logic controller with automated valves and operating sequences. That automation mattered in the field. It helped reduce routine manual intervention, supported remote access and gave the client stronger visibility into system operation without requiring frequent site visits.
Treatment flexibility met variable groundwater conditions
Although all six groundwater sites shared the same PFAS treatment goals, maintaining consistent performance required more than matching flow rates. Variations in solids loading, total organic carbon (TOC) and other influent characteristics meant the treatment train needed to accommodate changing water quality while delivering reliable PFAS removal.
To address that reality, the system included five stages of pretreatment before ion exchange. The treatment train incorporated gross particulate filtration, multimedia vessels, granular activated carbon, proprietary pretreatment media for TOC removal, bag filters and lead-lag ion exchange stages to support consistent removal of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). The vessels were designed for use with Onterris SORBIX™ RePURE ion exchange regeneration resin technology, adding flexibility for ongoing operation.
The client also needed features beyond the base system. The design team incorporated chemical dosing, solids handling and additional backwash treatment, aligning the system with site conditions instead of forcing operations to work around a rigid design.
Remote locations always come with their own set of challenges, so the system had to be both tough and adaptable right from the start. The team prioritized a design that was compact, easy to replicate and able to handle changing water quality while keeping performance steady.
Reliable results drove compliance confidence
The first system went online in the fall of 2024, facing tough weather and unpredictable water conditions. Despite those challenges, the M6 system reliably hit its PFAS treatment targets from the very beginning.
As the system neared the 10-million-gallon mark, monitoring confirmed steady reductions in PFOA and PFOS across pretreatment, granular activated carbon and ion exchange. The treated water showed over 99% reduction and stayed well below local contaminant limits.
Source: Onterris
That performance gave the client confidence to replicate the design. Since the first commissioning, five additional identical systems were deployed and all six systems are currently online and operating as designed with 24/7 remote connectivity.
A proven approach for multi-site groundwater treatment
This project shows how modular PFAS treatment can help well operators respond faster without waiting for permanent infrastructure. For organizations managing multiple sites, the value is not only in one successful installation, but it is also a repeatable approach that can reduce sitework, support remote oversight and adapt to different raw water conditions across multiple locations.
With PFAS regulations changing, project teams need solutions that can adapt quickly and meet new standards. This project offers a real-world example of how to get treatment systems up and running fast, keep track of operations at remote sites and plan for future compliance with more certainty.