The state of Colorado is taking an important step to move PFAS-containing firefighting foam out of storage for destruction, and Aquagga is proud to be selected to support this effort.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has awarded Aquagga the contract to collect, transport, and destroy PFAS-containing firefighting foams, otherwise known as aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), that have been taken out of service and temporarily stored by participating Colorado fire departments and commercial service airports through the state’s PFAS Takeback Program. “This effort gives participating fire departments and airports a practical path forward for managing legacy PFAS-containing foams. It is an important part of Colorado’s broader work to address PFAS and support a safer transition away from these materials,” said Rich Murray, PFAS and Emerging Contaminants Coordinator at CDPHE.
Colorado’s PFAS Takeback Program pays eligible fire departments and commercial service airports to remove PFAS-containing firefighting foam from service and store it until it can be safely disposed of. The money helps support participants with the purchase of PFAS-free replacement foam.
Aquagga's subcontractor, Rad Pros, will support the collection and storage of materials as part of the project. Aquagga will then help move stored material out of temporary storage and through the final destruction phase using the hydrothermal alkaline treatment (HALT) technology.
Removing PFAS-containing foam from active use is an important milestone. Equally important is ensuring these materials have a safe, responsible path to disposal and destruction, especially when they have been stored across multiple locations. This three-year contract will run through fall 2028 and is expected to support the destruction of approximately 40,000 gallons of firefighting foam stored throughout Colorado.
As more organizations phase out PFAS-containing firefighting foams, the need for responsible destruction is only becoming more important. Programs like this help address a practical challenge facing fire departments, airports, and public agencies: once foam is taken out of service, what is the path forward?
“Aquagga is thrilled that Colorado selected us for the AFFF Takeback Program,” said Dhileep Sivam, CEO of Aquagga. "From an environmental perspective, destroying AFFF and mitigating the associated human-health issues in Colorado is important work. From a business perspective, this is part of a broader trend in both the U.S. and the EU of actively addressing AFFF risk, so winning an early contract is the first step toward making an outsized impact in this effort.”
CDPHE notes that the program is supported through Colorado Senate Bill 20-218 and may expand in the future to include other entities and materials containing PFAS. As this project moves forward, Aquagga looks forward to working with CDPHE and the participating fire departments and airports across the state.
