The Saur group announces the launch of PFAS Resolve, its new flagship offering to detect, concentrate, treat and destroy per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) across water systems. Developed by integrating cutting-edge technologies and proven operational know-how, PFAS Resolve responds to urgent health and environmental needs while aligning with the EU’s 2026 regulatory shift.
A breakthrough in PFAS management
This launch follows the recent acquisition of Coldep, a specialist in vacuum flotation technologies, now integrated into Nijhuis Saur Industries (NSI). Coldep’s patented process harnesses micro- and nanobubbles under vacuum conditions, enabling the capture and concentration of micropollutants, including PFAS, in industrial water with an unprecedented level of efficiency. Compared to conventional separation techniques, this innovation delivers higher concentration factors, lower energy consumption, and reduced chemical use, setting a new benchmark for sustainable water treatment in industrial applications. This acquisition strengthens Saur’s upstream capabilities and reinforces its ambition to offer a fully integrated response to the PFAS challenge across Europe and internationally.
"PFAS contamination is one of the most pressing environmental and public health challenges of our time. With PFAS Resolve, we are not only delivering a scientifically robust and operationally sound solution — we are consolidating our position as a European leader in water services and responding to the growing expectations of both industrial and municipal clients. "
A regulatory and market inflection point
The upcoming EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), enforceable from January 2026, will impose a strict limit of 100 ng/L for the total concentration of 20 PFAS compounds in drinking water. Several EU member states are already implementing early compliance strategies, triggering a wave of assessments and retrofitting of treatment plants.
According to internal estimates, the addressable market for PFAS compliance in Europe exceeds €1.5 billion over the next 10 years. Municipalities and industrial operators alike are facing both regulatory pressure and reputational risks, with increasing expectations from citizens, NGOs and investors.
PFAS Resolve: integration capabilities coupled with operational expertise for high performance treatment and destruction
PFAS Resolve brings together the complementary expertise and technologies of Saur Group subsidiaries to deliver tailored, high-efficiency solutions: It helps local authorities and industrial operators anticipate regulatory changes, achieve complete destruction of pollution and protect consumer’s health and planet earth. PFAS resolve is built on 4 pillars:
- PFAS detection campaigns and audit to identify and quantify PFAS
- On-site pilot testing and consulting based on regulatory and technological expertise
- Manufacturing of equipment, design and construction of treatment & destruction units
- Operation and maintenance, mobile units and real time bio monitoring
A complete portfolio of advanced technologies
Saur group offers an integrated solution to resolve the PFAS issue and masters the integration of concentration, treatment and destruction technologies, making sure we deliver the most relevant treatment to the PFAS pollution spectrum.
- Membrane filtration, an effective and compact solution to concentrate PFAS both long and short chain
- Ion Exchange Resins, binds negatively charged PFAS with a higher removal of short chain PFAS and a lower CO2 footprint
- Activated carbon filtration, with carbon towers or Carboplus®, an effective technology to remove PFAS from water, easy to operate. The PFAS-saturated carbon can be disposed or reactivated to be reused
- Foam Fractionation, with Coldep’s vacuum fractionation technology, now part of NSI for effective concentration of PFAS in liquid matrices
- Electrochemical oxidation, with Axine’s partnership, an easy-to-operate onsite solution for complete PFAS destruction, including TFA
- Supercritical water oxidation, an offsite process to destroy PFAS effectively in a range of PFAS-containing solids and liquids
- Biosentinel by Saur®, for real time bio monitoring with an online interface to evaluate the level of ecotoxicity
Real-world performance in Rumilly: first in France
In Haute-Savoie (France), near Lake Annecy, Saur deployed with Rumilly Terre de Savoie Community of Communes a full-scale GAC treatment system in December 2023 in response to high PFAS levels in raw water (PFOA up to 215 ng/L). The facility, designed for 2 x 80 m3/h, uses Jacobi and Puragen activated carbon to deliver exceptional performance:
- PFAS levels reduced to below 1 ng/L at all flow rates (40, 60, 80 m³/h)
- Compliance ensured with over 99% removal efficiency
This case exemplifies the robustness, responsiveness and replicability of the PFAS Resolve solution.
Innovation in destruction: electrooxidation in Industrial Wastewater
At a chemical production facility persistent ultra-short and short-chain PFAS contamination in treated wastewater streams, Saur group implemented an advanced electrooxidation-based solution, part of the PFAS Resolve offering. Conventional treatment methods were either ineffective or prohibitively expensive, prompting the deployment of a new technology.
- Technology: NSI’s electrooxidation solution, targeting compounds like trifluoroacetic acid (TFA)
- Outcome: Over 99% PFAS destruction efficiency, enabling full environmental compliance and boosting sustainability
A group-wide commitment to protecting water quality
PFAS Resolve is not just a technological platform – it is a strategic response to the convergence of environmental transition, industrial responsibility, and health protection.
Already deployed in several EU countries, the offer supports:
- Growth acceleration in high-demand segments (industry, utilities)
- Synergies between recent acquisitions (Coldep, NSI)
- Saur’s ESG roadmap, including its pioneering Blue Bonds issuance in 2024
The Group aims to structure a European industrial response to the PFAS crisis, creating value not only for its clients, but also for the broader water ecosystem.