The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is the water sector’s leading research organization, helping advance innovation and best practices across the industry. As a long-time WRF partner, CDM Smith leads and contributes to research on critical issues like PFAS. These projects are transforming emerging science into practical solutions for utilities. This involvement keeps our experts at the forefront of industry developments and allows us to bring the latest research, data and insights directly to our clients.

As part of an unprece­dented series of sampling and inves­tiga­tive efforts led by the Water Research Foundation (WRF) and CDM Smith, our researchers have been collecting and char­ac­ter­iz­ing data from wastewater utilities across the U.S. With new PFAS profiles, our scientists and engineers have been able to better understand what factors influence PFAS parti­tion­ing between biosolids and water. 

CDM Smith’s collaboration with WRF helps drinking water and wastewater utilities by turning emerging research findings into practical tools, data, and operational guidance. This information is critical for utilities that will be affecting by new PFAS maximum contaminant levels. Much of the current work focuses on PFAS, water reuse, corrosion control, digital transformation, and treatment optimization.