Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2017ND326B

Perfluoroalkyl Substances in Surface Runoff of the Red River Basin

Institute: North Dakota
Year Established: 2017 Start Date: 2017-03-01 End Date: 2018-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $4,054 Total Non-Federal Funds: $8,108

Principal Investigators: Feng Xiao

Abstract: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are emerging organic contaminants that are toxic, persistent, and present ubiquitously in the environment. The project will reveal, for the first time, the distribution and concentrations of PFASs in the North Dakota aquatic environment. It will study the fate and concentrations of PFASs in surface runoff collected from Grand Forks and Fargo. The specific objectives of this proposal are to 1) identify the magnitude of PFAS loadings from urban stormwater; and 2) identify unique land-use characteristics that lead to PFAS contamination. The results of this study will 1) contribute to previously very limited knowledge of the level and fate of a major group of water-borne contaminants in North Dakota; and 2) provide important insights for strengthening stormwater best management practices to remove PFASs from non-point sources and enhancing drinking-water treatment processes to safeguard the drinking water against PFASs.