Birchtech Corp. Launches Water Treatment Business Amid New EPA Regulations on 'Forever Chemicals'

Birchtech Corp., a clean tech company focused on sustainable air and water treatment, has officially launched its water treatment solutions business with purchase orders totaling $0.9 million from a mid-Atlantic power utility. The company also announced a deal with Civil & Environmental Consultants Inc. to provide specialized testing services, signaling its entry into a market driven by tightening federal regulations on water contaminants. The company's commercial push coincides with new Environmental Protection Agency rules requiring public water systems to begin monitoring for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly called "forever chemicals," by 2027. By 2029, Maximum Contaminant Level limits for these chemicals must be in place. These PFAS contaminants are linked to serious health issues including low birth rates, increased cancer risks, and high blood pressure in pregnant women.

The Federal government has allocated $1 billion in federal funding for water monitoring systems, creating what Birchtech describes as a substantial addressable market. According to the company, water utilities spend approximately $1.5 billion annually to meet EPA water purification standards. Birchtech's initial work involves providing filtration system media replacement services for contaminant removal from wastewater at two utility locations. The company emphasizes a media-agnostic approach that allows selection of optimal products rather than being limited to a single corporate-sponsored product line, which it claims helps keep costs down for utility customers. "The analysis of multiple options, technologies, and media products allows for the selection of the best water treatment solutions that will yield optimal performance and the lowest cost for our utility customers," said John Pavlish, Birchtech's Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer.

The partnership with Civil & Environmental Consultants Inc. involves providing Rapid Small-Scale Column Testing for CEC's water utility customers nationwide. This specialized testing methodology simulates full-scale filter bed conditions quickly, enabling utilities to make decisions on granular activated carbon performance and develop compliance strategies. Birchtech will conduct these tests at its Analytical Design Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota, claiming it can perform them at unmatched speed and cost compared to rival U.S. laboratories. "This collaboration is also a critical step for our 'Clean Water' business, providing a specialized test to CEC's water utility customers, both large and small," said Richard MacPherson, CEO of Birchtech. "We currently have numerous potential water treatment solutions projects with utilities in our pipeline and many of these utilities currently work with CEC."

With regulatory deadlines approaching and what the company describes as competitive advantages in speed and cost, Birchtech aims to establish itself as a significant player in the water treatment industry. The company reports having a pipeline full of potential water treatment solutions projects with utilities as it works to generate what MacPherson called "sustainable, long-term value" for shareholders. The timing of Birchtech's market entry aligns with significant regulatory pressure on water utilities to address PFAS contamination, creating immediate business opportunities in a sector facing mandatory compliance requirements and substantial federal funding support for infrastructure upgrades.