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Technical answers to industry questions
I’m hearing a lot about PFAS. Should I be concerned about PFAS in CIPP? Is CIPP affected by PFAS?
Short answers – No, and no.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are manufactured chemicals (not naturally occurring) with useful properties such as grease-resistance in food packaging, nonstick cookware, and stain-resistant carpet and upholstery. These chemicals are notoriously slow to break down. Because they stick around longer than desired, they have a tendency to accumulate in soil, water, and animals – including livestock and humans. That’s the big concern with PFAS – is this stuff accumulating at alarming rates, to dangerous levels, and does anyone understand the health and environmental risks? PFAS is such a hot topic in water treatment that the US EPA has a dedicated info page (www.epa.gov/pfas) and just released the first-ever national drinking water regulatory standard for PFAS (www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas).
One thing we know for certain is that none of the PFAS chemicals are involved in cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) production. CIPP is a pretty simple recipe. It’s dry tube + resin, and neither of those two ingredients contain PFAS. NASSCO was way ahead of the curve on this one and authored a great article in 2021 to address PFAS in CIPP. If you’re seeking more technical information, that 2021 article is worth a read.
Lastly, there is no reason to believe that PFAS will impact CIPP quality or longevity. For further information on NASSCO’s stance, check out the PFAS Industry Factsheet.
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