International EMPEREST-project tackles the problem of removing micropollutants, especially perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), from wastewater. PFAS are used in various industrial processes and consumer products, such as firefighting foams, lubricants, electronics and grease and water repellent products. PFAS are persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and they are harmful to both the environment and human health. The currently used wastewater treatment techniques do not efficiently remove PFAS from wastewater effluents, causing PFAS to end up in the aquatic environments. 

The aim of EMPEREST is to

• increase knowledge of the emissions, pathways and concentrations of PFAS in the environment,
• improve and harmonize the environmental monitoring of PFAS in the Baltic Sea region, and
• develop economical practical solutions to remove PFAS from wastewater.

The target groups of the project are both national and local public authorities, such as cities and municipalities, wastewater treatment plants and national water associations. 

The EMPEREST project will develop the environmental monitoring of PFAS in the Baltic Sea region and create risk assessment tools aimed at municipalities to reduce the environmental impact of PFAS. Also, the project will develop and test a mobile pilot wastewater treatment plant to remove PFAS from wastewater. The pilot plants will be built in Poland and Estonia and will be tested in several wastewater treatment plants in the Baltic Sea region. In Finland, the pilot plant will be tested in the Kakola wastewater treatment plant in Turku.