PFAS treatment solution cleans up France's chemical valley

Global water and waste management company Suez has supplied patented technology to the Ternay Water Plant in Lyon, France, that will remove Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from the water supply of 170,000 people.

PFAS a growing concern for France

The French National Assembly was the second European nation to ban PFAS-use in the majority of products, after Denmark, echoing a growing concern among the country's population.

The law will come into effect from 2026. It was passed by vote in the assembly by 231 to 51, and followed a petition from French citizens. Under the law, a ban on the manufacture, import, export, and marketing of cosmetics, footwear, consumer textiles, and ski wax containing PFAS will become effective from January 1, 2026. The next stage will happen in 2030 when all textiles containing the substances, except for protective clothing, will be banned.

Green MP Nicolas Thierry first proposed the ban in 2024. Speaking to Le Monde, after the vote, he said: "In a relatively short space of time, two and a half years, thanks to the mobilisation of members of parliament, NGOs, scientists and investigative journalists, a subject that was under the radar has made its way into the public debate, to the point where France now has one of the world's most ambitious laws on PFAS."

A poll in March 2025 found that deteriorating quality was the main water worry for French people (72 per cent), ahead of shortages and drought.

Water quality in the Rhône Valley

Since 2022, local water authority Syndicat Mixte d'Eau Potable Rhône-Sud has been taking action to improve the quality of drinking water produced by the Ternay plant, which produces around six million litres a year.

The authority implemented a two-phase plan of action in collaboration with Agence de l'eau Rhône Méditerranée Corse, health authorities and Suez, which began with laboratory tests at CIRSEE, SUEZ's international research centre. An industrial pilot was then conducted at the plant to confirm the results from the laboratory and identify the most appropriate treatment for PFAS at the site and improve the quality of drinking water in the long term.

This technological solution, patented by SUEZ, is being used for the first time in France to deal with PFAS contamination and will ensure water quality for more than 170,000 users in the southern Lyon region who are supplied by the Ternay plant.

Guy Martinet, chair of the Syndicat Mixte d'Eau Potable Rhône-Sud authority, told media: "Producing high-quality water for our member authorities is a major issue at a time when raw water sources are being affected by the presence of PFAS."

He added: "Thanks to the new treatment that we and SUEZ will be introducing to our Ternay plant, we will be able to ensure the quality of the water we produce by upgrading our existing facilities."

What technology will be used to remove PFAS?

Before the collaboration, the Ternay plant used six activated carbon filters to remove PFAS from the drinking water. However, analysis had revealed that these quickly became saturated, affecting their ability to retain all PFAS present in the incoming water.

SUEZ's patented solution involves continuous renewal of the activated carbon using a system of six downflow reactors. This innovation allows the effectiveness of water treatment to be maintained on an ongoing basis, without having to shut down filters to replace the carbon.

It has the benefit of being easily integrated into an existing plant as part of upgrading work, which can help to limit the cost of investment for local authorities.

Pierre Pauliac, co-CEO of SUEZ and chief operating officer water, told media: "We are pleased to support the Syndicat Mixte d'Eau Potable Rhône-Sud authority in its efforts to treat PFAS in drinking water and to provide an effective response to this major issue."

He added: "The modular solution we will be deploying showcases SUEZ's leading-edge expertise in treating PFAS, along with our commitment to working in collaboration with our customers to introduce solutions suited to each local context."