Landmark US Study Reveals Sewage Sludge and Wastewater Plants Tied to PFAS Pollution

By: The Guardian

July 4, 2025

New research reveals that sewage sludge and wastewater treatment plants are major contributors to PFAS pollution in U.S. waterways, highlighting serious concerns about the nation’s waste management practices. A study tested water from rivers near 32 sludge sites across the country, including wastewater treatment facilities and fields treated with sludge-based fertilizer. It found elevated PFAS levels downstream in 95% of the locations, strongly implicating these sites as sources of contamination. The study also underscores the persistent nature of PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals,” which are linked to a wide range of health risks such as cancer, birth defects, liver damage, and immune dysfunction.

PFAS enter the environment through treated sludge, known as biosolids, which is often spread on farmland due to its nutrient-rich content. Although this practice is permitted by the EPA to reduce disposal costs, critics argue it simply recycles toxins into the food chain and back into water systems. The study detected PFAS levels in discharged wastewater that far exceed the EPA’s draft safety guidelines. For example, Detroit’s Rouge River showed a 146% spike in PFAS levels near its massive treatment plant, while Spokane’s Dragoon Creek recorded a staggering 5,100% increase near fields fertilized with sewage sludge.

Despite mounting evidence and public outcry, the EPA has resisted banning the agricultural use of sludge. Regulatory action has been inconsistent, with efforts to limit industrial PFAS discharges abandoned under the Trump administration. However, a recent 2024 lawsuit alleging violations of the Clean Water Act could finally push federal authorities to implement stricter controls. In the meantime, communities near sludge-treated fields and wastewater plants remain at risk of significant PFAS exposure through contaminated water.

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