Accredited Technical Masterclasses 09

ATM 09: PFAS in wastewater and biosolids

PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) present a growing challenge in the wastewater sector, especially in biosolids management. As PFAS regulation evolves through deepened scientific understanding, industry must remain agile to ensure protection of human health and environment from PFAS contamination.

In this Accredited Technical Masterclass, our industry leaders will examine these challenges and offer their experience-based solutions to equip you with the knowledge to address PFAS risks through a holistic approach spanning source control, sampling methods, treatment technologies, risk assessment and communication. The course empowers participants to make informed decisions about PFAS risk management and to adapt to regulatory developments.

Participants will explore how PFAS behaves during wastewater treatment, the implications of land application of biosolids and how to assess risk under the latest Australian PFAS NEMP 3.0 guidelines and relevant regulations in America. The session introduces innovative treatment solutions and technologies, supported by real-world case studies from GHD projects.

This masterclass is designed for those working in the water, wastewater and environmental sectors including utility leaders, engineers, decision makers, operators and consultants and anyone who would like to expand their knowledge of PFAS.

By attending this masterclass, you will be able to:

Explain how PFAS enters the wastewater stream and behaves throughout the wastewater treatment process.
Evaluate the risk of PFAS impacted wastewater and biosolids on human health and environment through current PFAS regulation, relevant to your region (US/Canada, NZ/AUS, EU).
Establish and implement tailored management and mitigation solutions to address your specific PFAS risk profile.
Develop key messages to support stakeholder and community consultation on PFAS-related decisions.

Don’t miss the chance to earn internationally recognised Continuing Education Units from the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). By completing a short quiz at the end of the class, you can earn 0.1 Continuing Education Unit.

This exclusive masterclass provides a unique opportunity to learn from leading industry experts and gain valuable insights into PFAS in wastewater and biosolids.

Lindsey Brown - Australian Market Leader - Water, GHD

Lindsey Brown is a well-known water sector leader and influencer. With a background in public policy and a Master’s degree in water regulation, she has contributed to the direction and development of water strategy and policy across Australia. Lindsey has worked in both public and private sectors, across three continents. She has owned and operated her own business and now, as Australian Market Leader – Water at GHD, Lindsey heads the largest team of water engineers in Australia.

Lindsey is an in-demand speaker and commentator on a range of industry issues from diversity and inclusion, to innovation and change and features in industry publications and mainstream media. She is a past AWA branch President, founding committee member of WaterAble and a WaterAid Ambassador.

Alice Clark - Senior Environmental Scientist, GHD

Alice Clark is a Senior Environmental Scientist with more than 15 years of consulting experience in contaminated site assessment and remediation. More recently, Alice has specialised in PFAS contamination in various environmental media. Her expertise lies in PFAS applied science and policy, providing technical advisory on PFAS assessment and remediation. She supports the undertaking of broader environmental audits in Victoria, where regulatory understanding and effective implementation are crucial. Alice adopts a pragmatic approach to addressing environmental contamination, prioritising a comprehensive understanding of risks to human health and the environment. She integrates environmental, social and governance principles in creating solutions. She holds a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours) from Monash University.

Zhiyong Xia - National PFAS Technical Leader, GHD

Dr. Zhiyong Xia is GHD’s National PFAS and Emerging Contaminants Technical Leader (Americas). He has extensive experience in PFAS sampling, testing/evaluation, fate and transport, treatment technologies (PFAS capture and PFAS destruction) and AFFF firefighting foams. Dr. Xia has developed a deep understanding of water treatment remediation for emerging contaminants. In addition to authoring more than 100 technical publications, he has also been a key inventor on 19 US patents related to PFAS, water and polymers.

Dr. Xia has won numerous awards, including the Johns Hopkins University/Applied Physics Laboratory Invention of the Year Awards on PFAS destruction and water filtration. He is a member of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and Water Environment Federation (WEF).

Jay Surti - Wastewater Treatment ＆ Recycling Service Line Leader, Americas, GHD

Jay Surti is a Professional Engineer with over 20 years of experience serving the water industry. During his tenure, he has provided innovative solutions to solve challenges related to the environment and public safety, aging infrastructure, sustainability, as well as contaminants of emerging concern such as PFAS.

Jay is a nationally recognised expert for biosolids treatment. He is heavily involved in many industry associations and has published several white papers on timely industry topics over the years. Jay has a Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Engineering Degree in Environmental Engineering.