Aquagga’s Compact ‘Eleanor’ Unit Packs a Punch in the Fight Against ‘Forever Chemicals’

Aquagga, a startup based in Tacoma, Washington, has developed a compact, containerized PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) destruction unit named “Eleanor.” PFAS are toxic “forever chemicals” found in various products and are a serious environmental concern. Aquagga’s technology, developed in collaboration with the University of Washington and the Colorado School of Mines, uses high pressure, high temperature, and caustic conditions to break down PFAS, converting them into benign compounds.

Testing has shown over 99% destruction of PFAS in treated water. The startup has received $4.7 million in contracts, awards, and funding for PFAS cleanup projects and is looking to scale up its operations to address the significant demand for PFAS remediation in contaminated sites, including airports. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to finalize rules limiting PFAS levels in drinking water, and the cleanup cost estimates for PFAS contamination are over $400 billion.