PFAS-destroying technology featured in Lake Elmo demonstration project

The Environmental Protection Agency says Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – known as “PFAS” — are long lasting chemicals which break down very slowly over time.

Because of their widespread use many of the contaminants can be found in the blood of people and animals and dirt all over the world.

Standing next to a series of equipment set up behind Lake Elmo’s Public Works Building, Gary Hooper of General Atomics, one of the contractors on the project, likened the technology to a popular household kitchen appliance.

"We, in essence, have a large pressure cooker, [a] little bit more complicated though, that actually destroys any kind of hazardous organic waste,” Hooper said, adding that process leaves behind no toxic byproducts following the super pressurization.

The portable set up will be in Lake Elmo for two weeks.

U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, D-MN, and others hope the technology, currently being used for concentrated contaminated water, can be scaled up to process drinking water. McCollum, who helped secure Defense Department funding for the technology, said there could not be a better place to highlight the process.

"The fact that they're doing the research here in Lake Elmo is really important, because we have been at ground zero for contaminated not only drinking water, but the fish advisories that are going out, and we also know that we have this pollution in our landfills,” McCollum said.

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