Airports occupy a unique and challenging position in the PFAS remediation landscape. Decades of reliance on aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) for fire suppression — required by federal aviation safety standards — has left many airport sites with significant PFAS contamination in soil and groundwater. Now, as regulatory pressure intensifies and AFFF phase-out accelerates, airport directors and their engineering partners are under growing pressure to act.
The PFAS Challenge at Airports
PFAS contamination at airports is not a new discovery, but the urgency surrounding it is new. The EPA’s enforceable maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for PFAS in drinking water, combined with increasing state-level regulatory action, have moved airport PFAS from a long-term concern to an immediate operational and legal priority.
At the same time, the scale of the challenge is significant. PFAS has a tendency to migrate — through groundwater, into adjacent properties, and toward community water supplies. Sites that appeared contained may prove more complex upon detailed investigation. And the $200+ billion national PFAS cleanup challenge means that regulatory scrutiny is only going to increase.
Why Airport Remediation Is Different
Airports are not like other industrial sites. They are operating infrastructure, often with 24/7 activity, complex underground utility networks, and strict limitations on where and when remediation activities can take place. Runway adjacency, fuel storage proximity, and the need to maintain Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) compliance at all times add layers of complexity that standard remediation approaches are not designed to navigate.
This means that the right remediation partner for an airport is not necessarily the most technically advanced firm — it’s the firm that combines technical capability with the operational discipline to work within the realities of an active aviation environment.
VIYA's Approach to Airport PFAS Projects
VIYA Environmental supports airport directors and their engineering partners with end-to-end PFAS remediation services, including:
Treatment system design and implementation. VIYA designs site-specific treatment systems that address PFAS in soil, groundwater, and wastewater — deploying thermal, chemical, and biological technologies individually or in combination based on site conditions and cleanup goals.
AFFF transition planning. As airports move away from AFFF to fluorine-free foam alternatives, VIYA supports the remediation strategy that must accompany that transition — ensuring that the switch in foam type does not leave legacy contamination unaddressed.
Long-term remediation strategy. PFAS cleanup at airports is rarely a single-phase project. VIYA helps clients develop phased remediation strategies that align with regulatory timelines, operational constraints, and long-term site management goals.
From Strategy to Implementation
One of the most common challenges airport clients face is the gap between remediation planning and field execution. Plans developed in consultation rooms often encounter operational realities that require adaptation. VIYA bridges that gap by remaining engaged from initial strategy through full-scale implementation — ensuring that the same technical expertise that shaped the plan is present when it matters most.
Starting the Conversation
If your airport is navigating PFAS transition planning — whether at the early assessment stage or further along in the remediation process — VIYA is ready to support you. Our team understands the operational constraints, regulatory requirements, and technical complexities that define airport PFAS projects.
