In-situ bioremediation of hanford groundwater

The U.S. Department of Energy has generated liquid wastes containing radioactive and hazardous chemicals throughout the more than forty years of operation at its Hanford site in Washington State. Many of the waste components, including nitrate and carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄), have been detected in the Hanford groundwater. In-situ bioremediation of CCl₄ and nitrate is being considered to clean the aquifer. Preliminary estimates indicate that this technology should cost significantly less than ex-situ bioremediation and about the same as air stripping/granular activated carbon. In-situ bioremediation has the advantage of providing ultimate destruction of the contaminant and requires significantly less remediation time. Currently, a test site is under development. A computer-aided design tool is being used to design optimal remediation conditions by linking subsurface transport predictions, site characterization data, and microbial growth and contaminant destruction kinetics.     

Application of the rescue number to the evaluation of remediation technologies for contaminated ground

An improved rescue number, RN_SOIL, which is an indicator for evaluating remediation technologies for contaminated ground that is based on both the risk and the remediation cost, is proposed as a tool of risk communication. The risk posed by contaminated ground is indicated by the figure of treatment priority at time t, FTP(t), which represents the human health risk as the number of people affected by the contaminated ground at time t during the remediation process. The calculation of the value of FTP(t) is based on exposure to contaminants that have migrated through environmental media from the contaminated ground, and is estimated by using a CalTOX model and the Monte Carlo method. The integration of FTP(t) with time, which represents the cumulative number of people affected by the contaminated ground, is used to estimate the performance of individual remediation technologies in risk reduction. The figure of unprocessibility for waste (FUW), which represents difficulties in remediation, is expressed as the remediation cost. FUW is estimated by using actual costs per unit volume of remediated soil. As an overall performance value, the rescue number for each remediation technology for contaminated ground (RN_SOIL) is calculated by multiplication of the integral FTP(t) by FUW. Smaller values of RN_SOIL are judged to indicate a better technology. The rescue index (RI), calculated as the ratio of the reduction of the integral FTP(t) to FUW, indicates the cost-effectiveness of the remediation technologies. Successful estimation of the indices (FTP(t), integral FTP(t), FUW, RN_SOIL and RI) demonstrate the usefulness of these indices in risk communication.Part of this paper was presented at 13th meeting of Japan Society of Waste Management Experts (2002)     

Control of Biofouling: Lessons Learned From a Decade of Carbon Injection System Operation and Maintenance

Over the past decade, we have learned a number of critical lessons surrounding carbon substrate handling while operating and maintaining hundreds of enhanced in situ biological remedies. The same qualities that make these substrates effective can also cause biofouling of the mixing system, piping infrastructure, and remediation wells. Managing biofouling is a key piece of a successful remedy and requires a unique set of design principles. Small decreases in injection rates can have considerable impacts to life‐cycle costs and performance caused by decreased substrate distribution and longer injection time frames, resulting in the need for system cleaning, well rehabilitation, and even well replacement. Biofouling can impair performance in any size system, but effects are often magnified by large injection volumes and extended time frames. Design should be considered in all stages of the anaerobic enhanced in situ bioremediation life cycle, particularly related to reagent mixing, storage, and residence time within the system. By understanding the fundamental mechanisms of biofouling, practitioners can make operational adjustments to enhance remedy performance by considering potential biofouling controls in the design; balancing site‐specific strategy and diagnostics; and proactively adjusting and fine tuning control/prevention technology and methodology. Ultimately, a combination of chemical and physical methods may be required to operate a carbon handling system over the long term; however, the operational costs can be greatly reduced and delivery efficiency increased if these methods are understood during the design phase. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Spreadsheet‐based modeling of ISCO with permanganate

CDISCO, a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet–based model, can be used to assist with the design of in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) systems using permanganate (MnO₄^?). The model inputs are the aquifer characteristics (porosity, hydraulic conductivity, effective aquifer thickness, natural oxidant demand, kinetic parameters, contaminant concentrations, etc.), injection conditions (permanganate injection concentration, flow rate, and duration), and unit costs for reagent, drilling, and labor. MnO₄^? transport in the aquifer is simulated and used to estimate the effective radius of influence (ROI) and required injection point spacing. CDISCO then provides a preliminary cost estimate for the selected design conditions. The user can perform multiple runs of CDISCO to optimize the cost of the ISCO design. Comparisons with analytical and numerical models of nonreactive and reactive transport demonstrate that CDISCO accurately simulates MnO₄^? transport and consumption. Comparison of CDISCO results with the three‐dimensional heterogeneous simulations show that aquifer volume contact efficiency and contaminant mass treatment efficiency are closely correlated with the ROI overlap factor. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Economic Project Risk Assessment in Remediation Projects Prior to Construction: Methodology Development and Case Study Application

Probabilistic economic analysis, including uncertainty of probabilities and consequences of project risks, is not widely used in remediation projects. This article presents a project risk assessment (PRA) method to identify, quantify, and analyze risks in remediation projects. The suggested method is probabilistic and includes uncertainty analysis of input variables based on expert judgment. It was originally developed as a part of a sustainability assessment tool, but is viable as a stand‐alone tool for remediation projects. The method is applied to a case study: a former paint factory that is being redeveloped into a residential area. The PRA method is used for analyzing and comparing the project risks associated with four remediation options, all including excavation but with different degrees of onsite treatment. The result of the case study application shows which alternative has the lowest mean risk cost, the highest probability to have the lowest risk cost, and how the risk costs are distributed, but also, importantly, helps the user to prioritize between risk‐reduction measures. ©2015 Wiley Periodicals     

Advanced site diagnostic tool 3D‐CSIA for in situ remediation

In situ remediation is inherently considered “green remediation.” The mechanisms of destruction by in situ technologies, however, are often unseen and not well understood. Further, physical effects of amendment application affect concentration data in an identical manner as the desired reactive mechanism. These uncertainties have led to the weight‐of‐evidence approach when proving viability: multiple rounds of data collection, bench studies, pilot studies, and so on. Skipping these steps has resulted in many failed in situ applications. Traditional assessment data are often tangential to the desired information (e.g., “Is contaminant being destroyed or just being pushed around and diluted?” and “What is the mechanism of the destruction and can it be monitored directly?”). An advanced site diagnostic tool, “Three‐Dimensional Compound Specific Stable Isotope Analysis” (3D‐CSIA), can assess the viability of in situ technologies by providing definitive data on contaminant destruction that are not concentration‐related. The 3D‐CSIA tool can also locate source zones and apportion remediation cost by identifying plumes of different isotope signatures and fractionation trends. Further, use of the 3D‐CSIA tool allows remediation professionals to evaluate effectiveness of treatment and make better decisions to expedite site closure and minimize costs. This article outlines the fundamentals of advanced site diagnostic tool 3D‐CSIA in detail, and its benefit is highlighted through a series of case studies at chlorinated solvent–contaminated sites. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Developing Life‐Cycle Environmental Response Costs for Leaking Underground Storage Systems at Service Station Sites

Leaking underground storage tank systems at service stations have resulted in tens of thousands of petroleum releases and associated groundwater chemical plumes often extending hundreds of feet off‐site. Technical and engineering approaches to assess and clean up releases from underground tanks, product lines, and dispensers using technologies such as soil vapor extraction, air sparging, biostimulation, and monitored natural attenuation are well understood and widely published throughout the literature. This article summarizes life‐cycle environmental response costs typically encountered using site‐specific cost estimation or metric‐based cost categories considering the overall complexity of site conditions: (1) simple sites where response actions require smaller scale assessments and/or remediation and have limited or no off‐site impacts; (2) average sites where response actions require larger scale assessments and/or remediation typical of petroleum releases; (3) complex sites where response actions require greater on‐site and/or off‐site remediation efforts; and (4) mega sites where petroleum plumes have impacted public or private water supplies or where petroleum vapors have migrated into occupied buildings. Associated cleanup cost estimates rely upon appropriate combinations of individual work elements and the duration of operation, maintenance, and monitoring activities. These cost estimates can be offset by state reimbursement funds, coverage in purchase agreements, and insurance policies. A case study involving a large service station site portfolio illustrates the range of site complexity and life‐cycle environmental response costs. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Insights from years of performance that are shaping injection‐based remediation systems

Research and field experience from the past 15 years has allowed remediation professionals to purposefully design injection‐based remediation systems with a high potential for success. Industry professionals can now claim a number of achievements that were unthinkable just a few years ago: (1) we have demonstrated that maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) can be achieved for multiple contaminants; (2) we have successfully targeted dense nonaqueous‐phase liquid (DNAPL) source zones; (3) we have expanded our understanding of injection hydraulics to treat large plumes; and (4) we have collected sufficient data on rates of treatment to be more predictive regarding outcomes. The next decade will continue to evolve the design and execution of these types of systems for application to more complex problems. At this point on the timeline, questions regarding the mechanisms of treatment have largely been addressed, allowing a shift in focus to operational enhancements. Specific operational insights arising from the body of work to date that arguably will continue to shape and influence the design and execution of injection‐based remediation systems include: (1) the fact that delivery does not always equal distribution, (2) treatment optimization requires aquifer tuning, and (3) life‐cycle costs can be reduced with remedy‐optimized investigation. The number of examples that support these concepts and their ramifications to future technology refinement is already increasing, demonstrating how the refinements that can be made around these areas of focus will enhance our ability to effectively tackle larger and more complicated plumes, and do so with maximum efficiency. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Partitioning tracer tests as a remediation metric: Case study at naval amphibious base little creek,Virginia Beach,Virginia

The partitioning tracer test (PTT) is a characterization tool that can be used to quantify the porespace saturation (S_N) and spatial distribution of dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs) in the subsurface. Because the method essentially eliminates data interpolation errors by directly measuring a relatively large subsurface volume, it offers significant promise as a remediation metric for DNAPL‐zone remediation efforts. This article presents, in detail, the design and results of field PTTs conducted before and after a DNAPL‐zone treatment at the Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia Beach, Virginia. The results from different tracers yield a relatively large range in S_N estimates, indicating notable uncertainty and presenting significant challenges for meaningful interpretation. Several potential interpretation methods are presented, resulting in an estimated DNAPL removal range of 15 to 109 L. While this range is large, it is consistent with the DNAPL removal (～30 L) determined from analysis of effluent concentration measurements collected during the remediation efforts. At this site, the initial and final S_N values are low, and the relatively inconsistent performance of the various tracers indicates that these levels are near the lower practical quantification limit for these PTTs; however, the effective lower quantification limit for these tests is unknown. Generally, an understanding of lower quantification limits is particularly important for interpretation of post‐remediation PTTs because S_N values are likely to be low (due to remediation efforts) and the S_N estimated from the PTT may be used to predict long‐term dissolved plume behavior and assess associated environmental risk. Partitioning tracer test quantification limits are test‐specific, as they are dependent on a variety of factors including analytical uncertainty, tracer breakthrough characteristics, and tracer data integration techniques. The results of this case study indicate that methods for estimating lower quantification limits for field PTTs require further development. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A design tool for planning emulsified oil‐injection systems

Emulsified oils have been used to stimulate anaerobic bioremediation at hundreds of sites contaminated with chlorinated solvents, perchlorate, heavy metals, and nitrate. A simple spreadsheet‐based tool has been developed to assist in the design of injection‐only systems for distributing emulsified oils in barriers and area treatments. This tool allows users to quickly compare the relative costs and performance of different injection alternatives and identify a design that is best suited to site‐specific conditions. Contact efficiency is estimated using results of prior numerical model simulations and dimensionless scaling factors that relate the volume of oil and water injected to treatment‐zone dimensions. Sensitivity analysis results indicate that maximum oil retention is one of the most important factors controlling system performance and cost. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Cost Evaluation for Selected Remediation Technologies

Relatively little data are available to document the historical cost for using common remediation technologies, and site managers often must rely on information from technology vendors and predictive models, which may not accurately reflect the experiences of previous technology users. To help address these concerns, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted an evaluation of data on historical costs of common remediation technologies. Cost curves were developed for four technologies, showing the relationship between cost for remediation and quantity of material treated. Although costs are known to be highly site‐specific and affected by many factors, the curves are useful in illustrating the variability of historical costs and the economies of scale for treating relatively large quantities of material. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Enhanced anaerobic bioremediation of a TCE source at the Tarheel Army Missile Plant using EOS

EOS, or emulsified oil substrate, was used to stimulate anaerobic biodegradation of trichloroethene (TCE) and tetrachloroethene (PCE) at a former Army‐owned manufacturing facility located in the Piedmont area of North Carolina. Previous use of chlorinated solvents at the facility resulted in soil and groundwater impacts. Ten years of active remediation utilizing soil vacuum extraction and air sparging (SVE/AS) were largely ineffective in reducing the TCE/PCE plume. In 2002, the Army authorized preparation of an amended Remedial Action Plan (RAP) to evaluate in situ bioremediation methods to remediate TCE in groundwater. The RAP evaluated eight groundwater remediation technologies and recommended EOS as the preferred bioremediation alternative for the site. Eight wells were drilled within the 100 × 100 feet area believed to be the primary source area for the TCE plume. In a first injection phase, dilute EOS emulsion was injected into half of the wells. Distribution of the carbon substrate through the treatment zone was enhanced by pumping the four wells that were not injected and recirculating the extracted water through the injection wells. The process was repeated in a second phase that reversed the injection/extraction well pairs. Overall, 18,480 pounds of EOS were injected and 163,000 gallons of water were recirculated through the source area. Anaerobic groundwater conditions were observed shortly after injection with a corresponding decrease in both PCE and TCE concentrations. Dissolved oxygen, oxidation‐reduction potential, and sulfate concentrations also decreased after injection, while TCE‐degradation products, ferrous iron, and methane concentrations increased. The reduction in TCE allowed the Army to meet the groundwater remediation goals for the site. Approximately 18 months after injection, eight wells were innoculated with a commercially prepared dechlorinating culture (KB‐1) in an attempt to address lingering cis‐1,2‐dichloroethene (cis‐DCE) and vinyl chloride (VC) that continued to be observed in some wells. Dehalococcoides populations increased slightly post‐bioaugmentation. Both cis‐DCE and VC continue to slowly decrease. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Evaluating the longevity of a PFAS in situ colloidal activated carbon remedy

The remediation of per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances by injection of colloidal activated carbon (CAC) at a contaminated site in Central Canada was evaluated using various visualization and modeling methods. Radial diagrams were used to illustrate spatial and temporal trends in perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) concentrations, as well as various redox indicators. To assess the CAC adsorption capacity for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), laboratory Freundlich isotherms were derived for PFOS mixed with CAC in two solutions: (1) PFOS in a pH 7.5 synthetic water that was buffered by 1 millimolar NaHCO₃ (K_f = 142,800 mg^1‐a L^a/kg and a = 0.59); and (2) a groundwater sample (pH = 7.4) containing PFOS among other PFAS from a former fire‐training area in the United States (K_f = 4,900 mg^1‐a L^a/kg and a = 0.24). A mass balance approach was derived to facilitate the numerical modeling of mass redistribution after CAC injection, when mass transitions from a two‐phase system (aqueous and sorbed to organic matter) to a three‐phase system that also includes mass sorbed to CAC. An equilibrium mixing model of mass accumulation over time was developed using a finite‐difference solution and was verified by intermodel comparison for prediction of CAC longevity in the center of a source area. A three‐dimensional reactive transport model (ISR‐MT3DMS) was used to indicate that the CAC remedy implemented at the site is likely to be effective for PFOS remediation for decades. Model results are used to recommend remedial design and monitoring alternatives that account for the uncertainty in long‐term performance predictions.     

Combined thermal and zero‐valent iron In Situ soil mixing remediation technology

Thermal remediation of contaminated soils and groundwater by injection of hot air and steam using large‐diameter auger in situ soil mixing effectively remediates volatile and semivolatile organic compounds. This technology removes large amounts of contamination during the early treatment stages, but extended treatment times are needed to achieve high removal percentages. Combining thermal treatment with another technology that can be injected and mixed into the soil, and that continues to operate after removal of the drilling equipment, improves removal efficiency, and reduces cost. Using field‐determined pseudo first‐order removal rates, the cost of the combined remediation of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) by thermal treatment followed by reductive dechlorination by iron powder has been estimated as 57 percent of the cost of thermal treatment alone. This analysis was applied to a case‐study remediation of 48,455 cubic yards, which confirmed the cost estimate of the combined approach and showed over 99.8 percent removal of trichloroethene and other chlorinated VOCs. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Constant Head Injection for Enhanced In Situ Chemical Oxidation

With the successful implementation of in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) programs to remediate contaminated soil and groundwater aquifers worldwide, ISCO has become established as a traditional remediation technique. On the basis of historical success, expanded ISCO practices are now routinely applied to increasingly difficult geologic environments, including formerly problem locations such as those containing nonaqueous‐phase liquid, fractured bedrock, low‐conductivity media, and highly layered and/or heterogeneous aquifers. Effective delivery of amendment, however, remains the single most important aspect of successful remediation, particularly given the range of potentially applicable delivery methods and site complexities. Selecting the most appropriate technique for any specific site depends upon a clear understanding of the variety of site constraints, including factors such as site conditions, underlying geology, contaminant distribution, technology limitations, and other project‐specific factors. Because the injection program is often the largest cost associated with implementation of an ISCO project, it is critical to develop a cost‐effective injection method for each site. Constant head injection provides a cost‐effective alternative for sites with low‐conductivity lithology(ies). Constant head injection employs a continuous low‐pressure application method to deliver ISCO agents over a long period of time. This synergistic method complements the existing site conditions and heterogeneity, working with the natural conditions, rather than trying to overcome or destroy the site geology using highly aggressive delivery techniques. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Quantitative Environmental Footprints and Sustainability Evaluation of Contaminated Land Remediation Alternatives for Two Case Studies

Since the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) launched its “green remediation” program and EU member states began to reassess their national regulations for environmental remediation in order to reach a Europe‐wide consensus on policy and standards, the need and interest for sustainable remediation of contaminants from brownfields has grown considerably. Concomitantly, the ability to calculate and assess the suitability as well as the environmental footprints and associated risks of a growing number of remediation techniques has become a priority. The authors quantitatively evaluate the differences between various remediation techniques, and for this purpose, a number of ex situ and in situ remediation techniques are adapted to model 21 remediation scenarios for two contaminated sites in the Gothenburg region of Sweden: the Bohus Varv site on the Göta älv river bank and the Hexion site in Mölndal. A wide range of quantitative results for these models are presented, compared, and analyzed. Based on the results from both projects, it is concluded that: (1) remediation techniques requiring long distance residual transportation have significant footprints, except the transportation of contaminated residuals by train due to Swedish energy production conditions; (2) residual transportation by ship results in much higher SO_x, NO_x, and particle releases compared to the other alternatives; and (3) residual transporation by truck results in high accident risks. Finally, activities powered by electricity result in a reduced footprint compared to activities powered by fossil fuels, considering Swedish energy production conditions. The authors conducted a cross‐benefit analysis of SiteWise^TM applications which recognizes its potential as a tool for presenting life cycle assessment analyses with appropriate system boundary definitions and an easy inventory analysis process. Results from this tool provide valuable support to decision makers aiming at more sustainable remediation. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Planning‐level source decay models to evaluate impact of source depletion on remediation time frame

A recent United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Expert Panel on Dense Nonaqueous Phase Liquid (DNAPL) Source Remediation concluded that the decision‐making process for implementing source depletion is hampered by quantitative uncertainties and that few useful predictive tools are currently available for evaluating the benefits. This article provides a new planning‐level approach to aid the process. Four simple mass balance models were used to provide estimates of the reduction in the remediation time frame (RTF) for a given amount of source depletion: step function, linear decay, first‐order decay, and compound. As a shared framework for assessment, all models use the time required to remediate groundwater concentrations below a particular threshold (e.g., goal concentration or mass discharge rate) as a metric. This value is of interest in terms of providing (1) absolute RTF estimates in years as a function of current mass discharge rate, current source mass, the remediation goal, and the source‐ reduction factor, and (2) relative RTF estimates as a fraction of the remediation time frame for monitored natural attenuation (MNA). Because the latter is a function of the remediation goal and the remaining fraction (RF) of mass following remediation, the relative RTF can be a valuable aid in the decision to proceed with source depletion or to use a long‐term containment or MNA approach. Design curves and examples illustrate the nonlinear relationship between the fraction of mass remaining following source depletion and the reduction in the RTF in the three decay‐based models. For an example case where 70 percent of the mass was removed by source depletion and the remediation goal (C_g/C₀) was input as 0.01, the improvement in the RTF (relative to MNA) ranged from a 70 percent reduction (step function model) to a 21 percent reduction (compound model). Because empirical and process knowledge support the appropriateness of decay‐based models, the efficiency of source depletion in reducing the RTF is likely to be low at most sites (i.e., the percentage reduction in RTF will be much lower than the percentage of the mass that is removed by a source‐depletion project). Overall, the anticipated use of this planning model is in guiding the decision‐making process by quantifying the relative relationship between RTF and source depletion using commonly available site data. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Examining the economics of remediation by fluid injection with vacuum extraction

Enhanced methods of in-situ remediation based on patented technology involving fluid injection with vacuum extraction have been used successfully at the Sand Creek Superfund Site in Commerce City, Colorado. Approximately 177,000 pounds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were removed from the subsurface in six months, two months ahead of schedule. Remediation goals were achieved on this thermally enhanced soil vapor extraction project by using vertical and horizontal wells interchangeably in vacuum or pressure service for vapor extraction, dual vacuum extraction, heated vapor reinjection, and air sparging. Although VOCs consisted of mixed chlorinated and petroleum hydrocarbons, the petroleum hydrocarbons, some in the form of nonaqueous phase liquids, had not been fully characterized. This article examines the evolution of the remedial design from that conceptualized in the Record of Decision (ROD) of the U.S. EPA, presents the rationale for the selection of alternative system components, and provides a cost analysis of the selected remedial technology, with comparisons to that of alternatives considered for use at Sand Creek.     

Radiological risks and cleanup costs: A remediation case study

Potential health risks and cleanup costs are primary factors for measuring the effectiveness of a remediation project concerning a site contaminated with residual radioactive materials. Demanding cleanup of a contaminated site to its original condition, while eliminating any health risks after cleanup, can require prohibitive costs. However, by setting practical remediation objectives and by performing realistic but conservative risk assessments, health risks can be acceptable and cleanup costs can be reasonable. This article uses the South-Middle and Southeast Vaults Decontamination and Demolition Project at Argonne National Laboratory to demonstrate how negligible health risks can result after cleanup with minimal cleanup costs. Substantial cost savings of approximately $2 million was realized by implementing in-place decontamination and demolition (D&D) on the basis of acceptable risk, instead of requiring cleanup of the site to its original condition. By using the RESRAD computer program as a modeling tool, we show the maximum projected radiation dose (0.1 mrem per year) and the potential lifetime cancer risk (on the order of 10⁶) to an individual from exposure to the residual radioactivities are negligibly small. In addition to aiding in the selection of a preferred remediation alternative, results of the RESRAD modeling were also used to guide the implementation of the selected alternative to reduce exposures from the dominant pathway and to ensure that exposures from all pathways would be as low as reasonably achievable.     

Evaluation of PFAS treatment technology: Alkaline ozonation

A bench‐scale treatability study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of alkaline ozonation on removing per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) present in groundwater at a former industrial site in Michigan. The study involved testing the PFAS‐impacted groundwater under alkaline ozonating conditions under a range of experimental conditions, including modifying pH, hydrogen peroxide‐to‐ozone molar ratio doses, length of ozonation pretreatment times, and sampling techniques. PFAS‐spiked samples were used to determine if inorganic ions such as fluoride (F^?), sulfate (SO₄^2?), formate (HCOO^?), acetate (CH₃COO^?), and trifluoroacetate (CF₃COO^?) were generated or if there were decreases in total organic fluorine resulting from PFAS treatment. The results from all tests indicate that decreases in PFAS concentrations were due to a combination of removal and destructive mechanisms with enhanced removal under acidic pH ozonation pretreatment conditions. Short‐chain PFAS concentrations increased during the experiments followed by an overall decrease in concentration under continuous alkaline ozonation conditions. Reductions in concentrations in perfluorooctane sulfonic acid of 75–97% were observed. Reductions in concentrations were also observed in other PFAS such as 6:2 FTS, PFHxS, PFOA, and PFNA. To our best knowledge, this is the first time that alkaline ozonation has been performed on PFAS‐impacted water while monitoring a larger suite of PFAS analytes in addition to destruction byproducts. Treatment of PFAS under the conditions discussed in this paper suggests that alkaline ozonation may be a viable remediation option for PFAS‐impacted waters.