{"id":51018,"date":"2026-05-11T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/?post_type=blog&#038;p=51018"},"modified":"2026-05-08T21:01:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T19:01:09","slug":"pfas-in-soil-and-water-balancing-safety-feasibility-and-sustainability","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/news\/pfas-in-soil-and-water-balancing-safety-feasibility-and-sustainability\/","title":{"rendered":"PFAS in soil and water: balancing safety, feasibility and sustainability"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"block block-share block--white\" >\n\t<div class=\"block__inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col--12 col--wrapper col--center\">\n            <div class=\"col col--12 editor-content col--center\">\n                <div class=\"share\">\n                    <p class=\"share-text\">Share on: <\/p>\n                    <div class=\"ss-inline-share-wrapper ss-hover-animation-fade ss-with-counter-border ss-inline-total-counter-left\"><div class=\"ss-inline-share-content\"><\/div><\/div>                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<section class=\"block cb block--white\" id=\"Inleiding\">\n\t<div class=\"block__inner cb__inner cb__inner--one\">\n\t<div class=\"col--12 col--center col--wrapper\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col col--6 editor-content\">\n\t\t\t<p><strong>In recent years, PFAS have become one of the most sensitive environmental topics in Belgium and beyond. And rightly so: these substances are highly persistent and can accumulate in the environment and the food chain. Concerns about potential health effects are considerable and call for robust policies and carefully considered measures.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As a result, implementing projects in practice has become far more challenging, both technically and financially. At the same time, large quantities of valuable soil are being sent to landfill, even though some of it could be safely reused. At Sweco, we seek a careful balance in every project: <strong>maximising protection for people and the environment, while managing soil, resources and budgets in a sustainable way.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"block cb block--white\" id=\"Inleiding\">\n\t<div class=\"block__inner cb__inner cb__inner--one\">\n\t<div class=\"col--12 col--center col--wrapper\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col col--6 editor-content\">\n\t\t\t<h2>PFAS: widespread, persistent and complex<\/h2>\n<p>PFAS (poly\u2011 and perfluoroalkyl substances) are a very large group of synthetic substances used, among other things, in coatings, water\u2011 and grease\u2011repellent applications, firefighting foam, textiles, cosmetics, food packaging and technical products.<\/p>\n<p>Several characteristics make PFAS particularly challenging:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Highly persistent<br \/>\n<\/strong>They degrade only very slowly in the environment.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mobile<br \/>\n<\/strong>They can spread through water, air and dust.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Widespread<br \/>\n<\/strong>Due to decades of use, PFAS are found in soil, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/services\/groundwater-solutions\/\">groundwater<\/a>, surface water and consumer goods.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Multiple exposure pathways<br \/>\n<\/strong>For the general population, exposure to PFAS occurs mainly via food, drinking water and consumer products. Specific sites or construction works are primarily relevant for local populations.*<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A strict regulatory framework is therefore necessary, but the <strong>practical translation into projects<\/strong> is not always straightforward.<\/p>\n<p>* <em>Source: EFSA Journal, <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2903\/j.efsa.2020.6223\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">&#8220;Risk to human health related to the presence of perfluoroalkyl substances in food\u201d<\/a>, 2020<\/em><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"block block--lightgray columns\" >\n\t<div class=\"block__inner columns__inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col--11 col--wrapper col--stretch\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"columns__col col col--6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"editor-content columns__content columns__content--content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Cost\u2011efficient and sustainable compliance with strict standards<\/h2>\n<p>Europe and the Member States are rightly focusing on reducing PFAS emissions and limiting exposure. This is reflected, among other things, in regulations on soil reuse: up to a certain PFAS concentration, soil may remain in place during development, but once excavated (for example for underground structures or foundations), that same soil may no longer be reused elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/services\/pfas-and-emerging-contaminants\/\">PFAS remediation<\/a> and treatment are also relatively expensive compared with other contaminants.<\/strong> For large volumes (think tens of thousands of cubic metres), total project costs can quickly run into millions of euros.<br \/>\nBecause of the limited opportunities for reuse, or the high cost of PFAS treatment, large volumes of soil are transported to landfill. <strong>Disposal itself is also a significant cost.<\/strong><br \/>\nAll of this has <strong>an impact on the feasibility and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/sustainability\/\">sustainability<\/a> of large projects<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Sweco sees it as a core responsibility to protect health and optimise project feasibility within the applicable regulations, through <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/digitalisation\/\">smart solutions<\/a><\/strong>.<br \/>\nAlways guided by one fundamental principle: <strong>never downplaying risks to people and the environment, but addressing them in a proportionate way<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"columns__col col col--6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"editor-content columns__content columns__content--content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Policy is also seeking workable solutions<\/h2>\n<p>PFAS are high on the European agenda. As part of, among other initiatives, the <strong>Water Framework Directive (WFD)<\/strong>, water quality guidelines have been revised. In Flanders, this has resulted in circular letters from Minister Brouns and <strong>exceptions to the traditional relocation principle<\/strong> for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/services\/groundwater-solutions\/\">groundwater<\/a> in the context of dewatering. Under strict conditions, a <strong>temporary deterioration in water quality may therefore be permitted<\/strong> for dewatering and drainage.<\/p>\n<p>Europe is also increasingly distinguishing between socially essential PFAS applications (in certain industrial or medical contexts) and non\u2011essential applications (such as some consumer products), with a view to a phased, but ultimately far\u2011reaching, phase\u2011out.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Our consultants translate these developments into practical advice and informed design choices<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"block cb block--white\" >\n\t<div class=\"block__inner cb__inner cb__inner--one\">\n\t<div class=\"col--12 col--center col--wrapper\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col col--6 editor-content\">\n\t\t\t<blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<figure><i class=\"icon icon-quote\"><\/i><\/figure>\n<p><em>In all PFAS cases, Sweco starts from one fundamental principle: protecting public health and the environment is non\u2011negotiable.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p><strong style=\"font-size: 16px;color: #000000\">Werner Staes<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 16px;color: #000000\">, Business Unit Manager, Environmental Services at Sweco<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"block block--white columns\" >\n\t<div class=\"block__inner columns__inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col--11 col--wrapper col--stretch\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col--12 editor-content columns__title\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"h2 hyphenate\">High-quality preliminary investigation: key to safe and efficient reuse<\/h2>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"columns__col col col--6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"editor-content columns__content columns__content--content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The better we understand the PFAS situation at a site, the more targeted our actions can be.<br \/>\n<strong>At Sweco, we focus in particular on:<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4>1. Smart investigation strategy<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Targeted drilling and sampling<\/strong>,<br \/>\nbased on historical activities, suspected sources and PFAS transport pathways.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mapping soil heterogeneity.<\/strong><br \/>\nPFAS are often unevenly distributed: we distinguish between zones suitable for safe reuse and zones that require treatment or disposal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">The additional cost of extra drilling is usually relatively limited compared with the potential benefits:<\/p>\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center\">a smaller volume requiring treatment,<\/h5>\n<h5><\/h5>\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center\">less material sent to landfill,<\/h5>\n<h5><\/h5>\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center\">a reduced need for new soil<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"columns__col col col--6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"editor-content columns__content columns__content--content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>2. Maximising safe reuse<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>maximising the volume of soil that can <strong>remain in place<\/strong>;<\/li>\n<li>identifying additional volumes that can <strong>be safely reused elsewhere, within the applicable standards and boundary conditions<\/strong>;<\/li>\n<li>ensuring that only soils which genuinely cannot be reused are treated or transported to an appropriate processing route.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This results in:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>lower costs<\/strong> for the client: less material needs to be sent to costly PFAS treatment or landfill;<\/li>\n<li>a <strong>stronger case<\/strong> <strong>for the permitting authority:<\/strong> decisions on soil relocation are transparent and well substantiated;<\/li>\n<li><strong>higher <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/sustainability\/\">sustainability<\/a><\/strong>: less treatment, less landfill, less transport and greater circular reuse.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>This approach can also be applied to other contaminants.<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"block cb block--white\" id=\"Inleiding\">\n\t<div class=\"block__inner cb__inner cb__inner--one\">\n\t<div class=\"col--12 col--center col--wrapper\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col col--6 editor-content\">\n\t\t\t<h2>PFAS requires an integrated approach<\/h2>\n<p>PFAS projects require a combination of <strong>chemical, hydrogeological, legal and design\u2011engineering expertise<\/strong>.<br \/>\nSweco brings these disciplines together in an integrated approach:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Soil and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/services\/groundwater-solutions\/\">groundwater<\/a> investigations<br \/>\n<\/strong>historical studies, field investigations, laboratory analyses and interpretation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hydrogeological advice<br \/>\n<\/strong>assessment of the impact of PFAS on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/services\/groundwater-solutions\/\">groundwater<\/a>, dewatering, infiltration and surface water.<\/li>\n<li><strong>PFAS risk assessment<br \/>\n<\/strong>evaluation of risks to people and the environment based on use scenarios.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Circular <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/expertise\/good-soil\/\">soil management<\/a><br \/>\n<\/strong>strategies to maximise safe reuse and limit residual streams.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Remediation design and supervision<br \/>\n<\/strong>selection and sizing of appropriate techniques, preparation of tender documents and site supervision.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Support in permitting and consultation processes<br \/>\n<\/strong>dialogue with authorities, stakeholders and local residents, with transparent communication on risks and mitigation measures.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"buttons-wrapper buttons-wrapper--center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/sweco-loket-fast-track-for-permits\/\" target=\"\" class=\"btn btn__primary \">Sweco Loket: fast lane for permits<\/a><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"block fwmb\" >\n\t<div class=\"block__inner editor-content fwmb__inner fwmb__inner--right fwmb__inner--image\">\n\n        <div class=\"fwmb__media col col-12\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1680\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/11\/Environmental-Soil-Consultancy-1680x560.jpg\" class=\"attachment-fwmb-image size-fwmb-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t<\/div>\n\n        \n        \n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<section class=\"block cb block--white\" >\n\t<div class=\"block__inner cb__inner cb__inner--one\">\n\t<div class=\"col--12 col--center col--wrapper\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col col--6 editor-content\">\n\t\t\t<h2>Towards a future with less PFAS<\/h2>\n<p>In the long term, there is only one structural solution: <strong>phasing out PFAS wherever possible<\/strong>. This is a process that will take many years, requiring alignment between regulation, industry and society.<br \/>\nUntil then, a significant legacy will remain in soil, water and materials.<\/p>\n<p>Sweco sees it as its mission to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>project by project<\/strong> seek the best balance between health, safety and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/sustainability\/\">sustainability<\/a>;<\/li>\n<li>support clients in making <strong>responsible and transparent<\/strong> <strong>choices<\/strong>;<\/li>\n<li>contribute to <strong>practical guidelines<\/strong> and <strong>good practice<\/strong> that help move the sector forward.<br \/>\nFor example, Sweco is working with OVAM on the new Soil Decree.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>Do you have questions about PFAS in your project, site or soil management file?<\/h4>\n<p>Our multidisciplinary team is happy to work with you, from the initial exploratory investigation through to implementation and aftercare.<\/p>\n<div class=\"buttons-wrapper buttons-wrapper--left\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/contact\/business-solutions\/\" target=\"\" class=\"btn btn__primary \">Contact our consultants for an integrated soil approach<\/a><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"block block--white latest-insights\" >\n\t<div class=\"block__inner latest-insights__inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col--11 col--wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col--12 editor-content latest-insights__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"h2 hyphenate\">Other news<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col--4 insight\" data-clickable=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"520\" height=\"296\" src=\"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2026\/05\/Two-men-in-refective-jackets-at-an-excavation-SW-00212-Photo_Casper_Hedberg_jpg-large-520x296.jpg\" class=\"attachment-insights-featured size-insights-featured wp-post-image\" alt=\"photo of an excavation site for a building project, with two Sweco workers in safety gear\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"insight__content editor-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<em class=\"cats\">Expert Talk, Sweco Loket, Natuur &amp; Milieu, Good Soil, Nature &amp; Environment<span class=\"cats__sep\"><\/span>11\/05\/2026<\/em>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/news\/pfas-in-soil-and-water-balancing-safety-feasibility-and-sustainability\/\">PFAS in soil and water: balancing safety, feasibility and sustainability<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p> <span class=\"readmore\">Read more<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col--4 insight\" data-clickable=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"520\" height=\"296\" src=\"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2026\/03\/01-\u00a9fayepynaert-wonderwoud-202507-032-520x296.jpg\" class=\"attachment-insights-featured size-insights-featured wp-post-image\" alt=\"Wonderwoud Gent: een nieuwe groenpool aan de stadsrand\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"insight__content editor-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<em class=\"cats\">Liveable cities, Nature &amp; Environment<span class=\"cats__sep\"><\/span>06\/05\/2026<\/em>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/news\/wonderwoud-wins-the-public-space-audience-award\/\">Wonderwoud wins the Public Space Audience Award<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p> <span class=\"readmore\">Read more<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col--4 insight\" data-clickable=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"520\" height=\"296\" src=\"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/02\/UI_Podcast_Healthy-cities-for-the-next-generation_Visualization_Final_Version_3399x1619-520x296.jpg\" class=\"attachment-insights-featured size-insights-featured wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"insight__content editor-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<em class=\"cats\">Nature &amp; Environment, Liveable Cities, Climate Adaptation &amp; Resilience, Water, Leefbare Steden<span class=\"cats__sep\"><\/span>06\/05\/2026<\/em>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/news\/infiltration-as-a-design-tool-for-a-robust-living-environment\/\">Infiltration as a design tool for a robust living environment<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p> <span class=\"readmore\">Read more<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<section class=\"block form-block block--lightgray\" >\n\t<div class=\"block__inner form-block__inner \">\n\n                    <div class=\"col--11 col--wrapper\">\n                                    <div class=\"col col--4 editor-content form-block__title\">\n                        <h2 class=\"h2 hyphenate\">Sign up for our newsletter<\/h2>                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"col--12 col\"><\/div>\n                \n                <div class=\"col col--4 editor-content\">\n                    Receive updates on groundbreaking projects, sustainable solutions, and exclusive insights from Sweco. 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aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\"   \/><\/div><\/li><li id=\"field_15_10\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-text gfield--input-type-text gfield--width-full field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible gform_text\"  data-field-class=\"gform_text\" ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' for='input_15_10'>Company (optional)<\/label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input autocomplete=\"off\"  name='input_10' id='input_15_10' type='text' value='' class='large'      aria-invalid=\"false\"   \/><\/div><\/li><li id=\"field_15_11\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-radio gfield--type-choice gfield--input-type-radio gfield--width-full gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible gform_radio\"  data-field-class=\"gform_radio\" ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label' >I would like to receive the 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for='choice_15_11_2' id='label_15_11_2' class='gform-field-label gform-field-label--type-inline'>English<\/label>\n\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/li><li id=\"field_15_9\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-consent gfield--type-choice gfield--input-type-consent gfield--width-full gfield_contains_required field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible gform_consent\"  data-field-class=\"gform_consent\" ><label class='gfield_label gform-field-label screen-reader-text gfield_label_before_complex' ><span class=\"gfield_required\"><span class=\"gfield_required gfield_required_asterisk\">*<\/span><\/span><\/label><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_consent'><input autocomplete=\"off\"  name='input_9.1' id='input_15_9_1' type='checkbox' value='1'   aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\"   \/> <label class=\"gform-field-label gform-field-label--type-inline gfield_consent_label\" for='input_15_9_1' >By submitting your 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