Pilot Study To Compare Single-Use IEX Resin To GAC Moved To Full-Scale Certified Drinking Water System

In a high-stakes effort to protect the drinking water for 10,000 people near the Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth, NH, ECT2 spearheaded a pilot study to combat PFAS contamination in the region's water supply. The Haven well, severely impacted by PFAS, was taken offline, and ECT2 was brought in to compare the efficiency of ion-exchange (IEX) resin against the more traditional granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment.

The results were striking. ECT2’s single-use IEX resin outperformed GAC, particularly in removing short-chain PFAS compounds, which are more challenging to eliminate. Additionally, the lifecycle cost analysis revealed that IEX resin required less frequent maintenance, smaller equipment, and offered long-term cost savings. As a result, the city and the Air Force Civil Engineering Center (AFCEC) chose IEX resin for the full-scale water treatment system.

ECT2 successfully delivered the project on time and within budget, ensuring safe drinking water for the community. Since its launch in 2021, the system has maintained 100% compliance with all PFAS regulations.