Pressure Relief Valves
Why smart pressure management determines PFAS treatment success
Removing PFAS from drinking water requires sophisticated treatment technologies that operate under precise conditions.
PFAS treatment systems therefore benefit from sophisticated pressure relief valves that continuously monitor and adjust to maintain optimal operating conditions.
By Steve Causseaux, Cla-Val
About the author Steve Causseaux, District Sales Manager for Cla-Val has almost two decades in water management. He works closely with water and wastewater district operators, engineers, and independent engineering firms to select valves and specific valve functions for a wide range of applications.
PFAS( per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination is a concern in many countries. In the United States this is no longer a localised issue— it’ s a nationwide crisis. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four U. S. territories have detected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in their water supplies. According to Environmental Working Group scientists, more than 200 million Americans rely on systems delivering water tainted with PFOA or PFOS— two of the most hazardous and well-studied PFAS compounds. Dubbed“ forever chemicals,” PFAS owe their persistence to exceptionally strong carbon-fluorine bonds. These same bonds that make them effective in consumer products also render them nearly indestructible in the environment. Instead of breaking down, PFAS accumulate in soil, water and even human tissue, where they can linger for decades and contribute to serious health risks. When the EPA finalized its National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for PFAS compounds, it sent public water systems scrambling to implement treatment solutions to meet the new standards. One critical aspect often overlooked that could make the difference between a treatment plant’ s success vs. costly failure is proper pressure management.
Balancing flow and force
Removing PFAS from drinking water requires sophisticated treatment technologies that operate under precise conditions. The most common approaches, Granular Activated Carbon( GAC) and Ion Exchange( IX) systems, rely on physical and chemical processes that trap PFAS molecules as water passes through specialised media. These systems house activated carbon or resin beads inside large pressurised vessels, where contaminated water is forced through the filtration medium. The effectiveness of these systems hinges on maintaining optimal operating conditions, particularly hydraulic loading rates and system pressure. Lower flow rates generally enhance PFAS removal efficiency and extend filter lifespan, while excessive flow rates can lead to premature filter exhaustion and contaminant breakthrough. Advanced treatment methods like reverse osmosis and nanofiltration present greater challenges, requiring high-pressure vessels capable of withstanding significant stress. These systems need precise pressure control to function effectively while managing the concentrated waste streams they produce.
30 Valve World February 2026 www. valve-world. net