Emerging Contaminants
Tetra Tech is a leader in identifying, assessing, and managing risks associated with emerging contaminants such as PFAS and other toxins across complex water environments.
Emerging contaminants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pose increasing challenges to environmental safety, regulatory compliance, and public health. Tetra Tech leverages decades of global emerging contaminants expertise and scientific leadership to help clients respond to this evolving threat. Our multidisciplinary teams combine advanced analytical methods with in-depth regulatory understanding to deliver evidence-led, risk-based solutions tailored to specific site and catchment contexts.
We support government, industry, and infrastructure clients through the full lifecycle of emerging contaminants risk—from strategic assessments to site investigation, remediation, and long-term monitoring. In addition, our laboratories in the UK and the Netherlands provide our clients with a full suite of in-house capabilities including PFAS and CIP4 sampling, analysis, and assessments.
Our integrated approach includes catchment-scale modelling, stakeholder engagement, and innovative remediation technologies to reduce uncertainty and deliver sustainable outcomes. We have expertise in helping clients address emerging contaminants that can be found in groundwater and surface waters:
- Algal toxins
- Chlorinated hydrocarbons such as 1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP)
- Emerging organic solvents such as 1,4-dioxane
- Microplastics
- Nitrosamines such as n-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
- Perchlorate
- Pharmaceuticals and personal care products
- Antimicrobials such as triclosan
PFAS Risk Assessment and Strategy Development
We provide strategic guidance to help clients understand and respond to the potential risks associated with PFAS and other emerging contaminants.
- Regulatory horizon scanning and risk interpretation
- Development of risk-based conceptual site models
- Stakeholder engagement and risk communication strategies
- Support for litigation and insurance claims
PFAS Site Investigation and Remediation
Tetra Tech delivers end-to-end investigation and remediation services for PFAS and related contaminants, grounded in regulatory compliance and technical excellence.
- Soil and groundwater characterisation
- Risk-based sampling and laboratory analysis
- Treatment feasibility studies
- Implementation of in situ and ex situ remediation technologies
Catchment-Scale Investigations and Modelling
Our teams conduct spatially integrated assessments across river catchments, helping to trace sources, understand transport pathways, and prioritise mitigation efforts.
- Source-pathway-receptor analysis
- Surface water and groundwater modelling
- Fate and transport assessments
- Integration with ecological and human health risk frameworks
Long-Term Monitoring and Management
We support clients with robust monitoring strategies to ensure ongoing risk control and regulatory compliance.
- Monitoring plan design and implementation
- Data analysis and trend evaluation
- Compliance reporting and stakeholder communication
- Adaptive management frameworks
Innovative Technologies and Research Partnerships
Our teams work at the forefront of PFAS science, supporting clients through research collaborations and the deployment of novel technologies.
- Pilot-scale testing and field trials
- Partnerships with academic institutions and research bodies
- Application of Tetra Tech Delta technologies for advanced data analytics
- Evaluation of thermal, chemical, and biological remediation options
