Our team of professionals have been addressing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) impacts since the days when this class of contaminants was still unknown to many. Today, we continue to lead the way with practical, innovative approaches and ground-breaking technologies to help clients overcome the challenges posed by PFAS.

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PFAS SPECIALISTS
500+
OFFICE LOCATIONS
200+
Icn-PFAS-Strategic Planning

Strategic Planning

Icn-PFAS-Permitting Support

Permitting Support

Icn-PFAS-Mitigation Management

Mitigation Management

IcnPFASRemediation  CleanUp

Remediation & Clean-Up

Helping water companies address PFAS risks in groundwater catchments

The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) requires water companies to assess PFAS risks in their water supply catchments. WSP has been assisting UK water companies in updating their groundwater risk assessments and adapting to the evolving DWI requirements.
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Investigating PFAS presence at a UK airport, as part of environmental permit renewal

We supported a UK airport in their environmental permit renewal, investigating PFAS presence and reducing it in surface water discharges.
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Preparing for Proposed PFAS Regulations: Industry Readiness

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are manufactured chemicals and have been widely used since the 1940s. Their persistence in the environment and health concerns have prompted five EU Member States to propose restricting PFAS use under EU REACH chemicals legislation. 
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Projects


Raine B Photo_Without BG updated

Associate Director in WSP’s Ground and Water team

Ben Raine

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I am an Associate Director in WSP’s Ground and Water team, with a technical background in land contamination and environmental management. I oversee one of our major frameworks with National Grid, focusing on the demolition and remediation of sites from their legacy gasworks portfolio. Additionally, I work across various sectors including clean energy developments, residential housing projects, and aviation. 
My career journey spans nearly 20 years, starting as a field engineer involved in ground investigation and remediation projects, primarily on petrol filling stations and oil and gas terminals. I quickly transitioned into environmental incident response projects following significant events such as the Buncefield Oil Depot explosion in December 2005 and a major chemical spill in East Sussex in 2009. 
Throughout my career, I have been engaged in environmental due diligence projects, environmental impact assessments for major infrastructure schemes, and most recently, managing demolition and remediation projects as an accredited NEC project manager. My tenure also includes four years in Aberdeen, where I expanded an environmental offering in the upstream oil and gas industry. 
What draws me to WSP is the people and the projects. I have often been asked challenging questions by clients, and I am consistently impressed by WSP’s technical capabilities to provide affirmative solutions and deliver positive outcomes through our range of specialists. 
I am passionate about STEM engagement with schools, taking the time to speak to students—potential environmental stewards of the future—about my work and how simple ideas and concepts can address the complex challenges that WSP is at the forefront of, such as clean water protection and emerging contaminants like PFAS. 
 

Heather Di Lauro updated

Service Line Director for WSP's Ground and Water team, UK

Heather Di Lauro

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I am the Service Line Director for WSP's Ground and Water team in the UK, bringing 20 years of experience in environmental consultancy. As a Chartered Scientist and full member of the Institute of Environmental Sciences, I'm proud to be a registered SiLC (Specialist in Land Condition). Leading a dedicated team of 200 specialists, we tackle everything from contaminated land to hydrogeology, geoscience, and demolition and decommissioning. 
My expertise lies in managing and directing projects focused on investigating and remediating soil and groundwater. I've worked across various areas such as liability assessment, acquisition, divestment, planning, and permitting. My experience spans multiple sectors, including manufacturing, power generation, oil and gas, and waste management. Notably, I've led numerous PFAS-related projects, primarily in the industrial space, and collaborate with the Environment Agency on their PFAS screening initiative. 
In my role, I find great fulfillment in witnessing the positive environmental impact of land clean-up projects. It's incredibly rewarding to see how these efforts improve community well-being and enable land to be repurposed for future use. 
 
Optimized Strategic Planning

A database of known PFAS associations with industries, processes and products to evaluate potential PFAS within supply chains and likelihood of legacy environmental releases at subject sites and nearby facilities.

We have optimized a multi-tiered desktop protocol that marries the likelihood of a historic PFAS release with potential receptor impacts. The protocol is risk-based, client-customizable and identifies and ranks potential reputational risk and financial liability.

Our vulnerability services address increasing public pressure and regulatory scrutiny to remove PFAS from manufacturing and commerce through systematic and documented supply chain and operations assessment where PFAS and PFAS byproducts are identified and tracked through occupational exposure points and waste streams. Ultimately, action plans to eliminate PFAS risk are developed in concert with client goals. 

Advanced analytical and sampling

We are adept with leveraging targeted and non-targeted analytical methods and advanced sampling techniques, including passive samplers and lysimeters, to gather information needed to build a complete picture of PFAS impacts.

Vapor Phase PFAS

Volatilization of short chain and neutral PFAS (e.g., fluorotelomer alcohols) is proving to be a major PFAS transport pathway that is rapidly gaining regulatory attention. WSP experts have the knowledge and experience to assess and mitigate PFAS vapor risks associated with landfills, residential and workplace vapor intrusion, and occupational exposure.

Automated and machine learning tools

The large volumes of data from PFAS testing programs make it difficult to categorize samples efficiently. Machine learning, a branch of artificial intelligence using statistical algorithms to learn from data, is helping to simplify this process.

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Groundwater Plume Analytics®

Tools that mine existing data to better manage plumes with focus on cost effective resilient remedies.

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Source Identification and Investigation
Remediation and Treatment

Destructive treatment technologies

WSP has focused on the advancement of several PFAS treatment technologies with specific focus on destructive solutions to end PFAS cycling through the environment, lower costs and reduce liabilities. These include:

  • Electro-oxidation

  • Super critical water oxidation

  • Plasma

  • Ball-Milling

  • Gasification

Nature-based solutions

Nature-based solutions (NbS) leverage natural processes to tackle various challenges, benefiting both people and biodiversity. Learn how Nature based solutions are being used to address the PFAS challenge.

Learn more >  – link to article

Separation and Stabilization Technologies

The WSP PFAS team has designed, operated, and maintained some of the first PFAS treatment systems, as well as developed and demonstrated separation, stabilization, and destruction technologies since 2015:

  • WSP treatability study labs

  • WSP treatment trailers

  • Full scale treatment systems

From small to large flows, from in-situ to ex-situ, from conventional to innovative technologies, we provide experience-based, scientifically advanced, economically efficient solutions tailored to each site to efficiently address PFAS.

WSP's risk assessors conduct multi-pathway PFAS risk assessments, specialize in dietary exposure evaluations, and routinely develop toxicology reviews and assessments.

Risk Management
Ball milling

Gasification

Modular

Plasma

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