Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2022_IL_Lampert

PFAS transport from contaminated areas to surface waters

Institute: Illinois
USGS Grant Number:
Year Established: 2022 Start Date: 2022-12-01 End Date: 2025-11-30
Total Federal Funds: $250,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $250,000

Principal Investigators: David Lampert

Project Summary: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of man-made, bioaccumulative chemicals that have been released to the environment over the past 70 years. Crest Hill, IL has a legacy of PFAS contamination in its groundwater wells from manufacturing and disposal of firefighting foams. PFAS concentrations in the community’s drinking water wells exceed Illinois State remedial action levels. This PFAS contamination is migrating into protected wetland areas around the Des Plaines River. This project will study the PFAS movement from contaminated areas in Crest Hill using field data, computer simulations, and a laboratory-scale model of the site. The results are expected to help develop strategies to contain the PFAS at the site and other places where PFAS moves into surface water bodies.