PFAS Contamination is Revolutionizing How Excavation Companies Approach Digging Projects in 2025
The excavation industry is experiencing its most significant regulatory shift in decades as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination concerns reshape environmental standards and digging protocols across the United States. These “forever chemicals” have prompted the EPA to establish the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standards that will reduce PFAS exposure for approximately 100 million people, fundamentally changing how excavation contractors must approach soil disturbance projects.
Understanding the PFAS Challenge for Excavation Projects
PFAS contamination threatens public health and the environment on a scale that may rival other historic environmental contamination liabilities such as asbestos and PCBs. Major sources of PFAS input to soil and groundwater include aqueous film forming foam used in firefighting, wastewater effluent, landfill leachate, and biosolids, making remediation of PFAS contaminated solid and aqueous media extremely challenging due to the chemical and thermal stability of PFAS and the complexity of PFAS mixtures.
For excavation contractors, this presents unprecedented challenges. PFAS are mobile in the subsurface and highly resistant to natural degradation processes, making soil source areas ongoing sources of groundwater contamination, while soil standards issued for protection of groundwater are in the single digit part per billion range – an extremely low threshold that significantly impacts excavation planning and execution.
New Excavation Protocols for PFAS-Contaminated Sites
Traditional excavation methods are being completely reimagined for PFAS-contaminated sites. While addressing recalcitrant contaminants in soil has traditionally been done through containment/capping or excavation and off-site disposal, excavation and off-site disposal or treatment of PFAS-impacted soils is currently the only well-developed treatment technology option.
However, some landfill operators are choosing to restrict acceptance of PFAS-containing waste and soils as protection against future liability, and with the EPA and some states considering or having designated PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances, this would reduce the number of facilities where disposal of PFAS-contaminated soil would be allowed.
Innovative Treatment Approaches Emerging
The industry is rapidly adopting new approaches to handle PFAS contamination. Innovative but less established treatment approaches for PFAS in soil include stabilization with amendments, soil washing, and low temperature thermal desorption. PFAS-adsorbing materials like activated carbon can be applied through in situ soil mixing or ex situ stabilization to reduce the leachability of PFAS from contaminated soil/sediment, providing a relatively quick, simple, and low-cost way to reduce ongoing PFAS contamination transport.
Contaminated soil is excavated and loaded to a container where it is mixed with water, with a high-pressure water stream used to scrub the fines from coarser soil particles and dissolve some of the contaminants, then fines are separated from coarser fractions for further management, with coarse particles placed back after concentration checks.
Local Expertise Makes the Difference
For property owners in the Capital Region, working with experienced local contractors who understand both traditional excavation challenges and emerging PFAS protocols is crucial. Excavating Services Saratoga County NY providers like Emerson Excavating and Trucking bring essential local knowledge to these complex projects. The company has been serving Saratoga County property owners with reliable excavation services for years, understanding local soil conditions, municipal requirements, and the challenges that come with working around existing structures and utilities, while operating modern, well-maintained equipment with full licensing and insurance coverage.
Regulatory Landscape Continues Evolving
In May 2025, EPA announced it will keep current National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for PFOA and PFOS while extending compliance deadlines and establishing a federal exemption framework, and announced its intent to rescind regulations and reconsider regulatory determinations for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and the Hazard Index mixture. This regulatory uncertainty creates additional challenges for excavation contractors who must stay current with changing requirements.
Because the science of PFAS is rapidly evolving and improving, the regulatory status of PFAS is currently in a dynamic state, with comprehensive PFAS regulation likely to follow an iterative process over the coming years, though it remains unknown how EPA will proceed with the roadmap under the current administration.
Financial and Operational Impacts
The financial implications are substantial. EPA announced $2 billion from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to address emerging contaminants, including PFAS, in drinking water, with investment allocated to states and territories and made available to communities as grants. This funding recognizes the significant costs associated with PFAS remediation and the need for specialized approaches.
Excavation and off-site disposal or treatment is a common method for disposing of PFAS-contaminated soil, but what happens to the soil once transported off-site often depends on the quantity of impacted soil, with some landfill operators restricting large amounts of PFAS-containing waste to protect themselves against future liability.
Preparing for the Future
As PFAS regulations continue to evolve, excavation contractors must invest in specialized training, equipment, and protocols. In EU countries, sites contaminated with PFAS are usually remediated by excavating soil and disposing of it in a landfill since no in-situ or on-site techniques capable of treating large quantities of soil cost-effectively have been developed, highlighting the ongoing need for innovative solutions.
Property owners planning excavation projects should work with contractors who understand these emerging challenges and can navigate the complex regulatory landscape. The combination of environmental expertise, local knowledge, and proper equipment will be essential for successful project completion in this new era of environmental excavation standards.
The excavation industry’s response to PFAS contamination represents more than regulatory compliance – it’s a fundamental shift toward more environmentally conscious and scientifically informed construction practices that will define the industry for years to come.