Introducing PFAS-Snare™: Containerized PFAS and Microplastics Treatment for Small Water Systems

Across the nine articles before this one, a single theme keeps returning: PFAS contamination shows up in places that are hard and expensive to treat. Small groundwater systems feel that squeeze most acutely. They face the same regulatory targets and the same chemistry as large utilities, but without the engineering budgets, the concrete infrastructure, or the long project timelines that conventional treatment builds assume. PFAS-Snare is PRM's answer to that specific gap, and today it has a home of its own at pfas-snare.com.

What PFAS-Snare Is

PFAS-Snare is a turnkey, containerized potable water treatment system engineered for the targeted removal of PFAS and microplastics from potable water sources. It arrives as a pre-assembled, factory-tested enclosure that can run on a simple gravel pad or straight from a transport trailer, without the concrete infrastructure that traditional systems require. It is available as a pre-assembled containerized system or as a kit. The system is patent pending.

The design philosophy is deliberately conservative, built around ease of construction, operation, and maintenance. Exchangeable media vessels allow for fast changeout, and because the system is fully enclosed, contaminated fluid interfaces with the outside environment only through designated perimeter connections.

How the Treatment Train Works

Water moves through a fixed sequence of stages, each doing a specific job, so the process is predictable and repeatable for the operator. The standard train is configured in series:

1. Inlet protection. NSF-rated bag filtration in a stainless steel housing captures incoming sediment and particulates, protecting the treatment media that follows.
2. PFAS-selective treatment media. Exchangeable vessels are pre-loaded with PFAS-selective media. The platform is media-agnostic and adapts to specialized adsorption, ion exchange, or carbon media depending on the water chemistry.
3. Dual-action polishing and microplastics capture. A final polishing stage captures microplastics from the source water, along with any particulate or media fines generated upstream, protecting the distribution system.
4. Potable-rated connections. Hydralink™ hose sets and fittings are selected for potable water service and meet industry safety standards, with isolation valves and integrated drains for fast, low-downtime service.

Because the platform is media-agnostic, it adapts to the contaminant profile rather than forcing a single approach. Specialized adsorption media, ion exchange, and granular activated carbon can each be configured depending on the water chemistry, a trade-off we explored in our look at how GAC and ion exchange perform differently for short-chain PFAS. The same platform can also be configured for other contaminants such as uranium, radium, and nitrates.

Built for Real-World Sites

The enclosure is designed to protect the equipment and the operator in conditions that range from flood-prone sites to freezing winters. The interior uses hydrophobic, enamel-backed foam core panels that will not rot over time. An industrial dehumidifier limits mold and mildew, two heaters (one a redundant backup) provide freeze protection, and a structural flood-proofing drain comes standard on every unit.

Everything is built under one roof. All engineering, fabrication, wiring, and plumbing happen at PRM's North Carolina facility, which includes a UL Certified Panel Shop and an ASME Pressure Vessel Code Shop. PRM holds multiple Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) third-party certifications, and the PFAS-Snare system carries NRTL System Certification for applicable components. Every system is factory tested before it ships, then delivered and anchored on site. The site contractor handles the exterior electrical feed, the main water connection, and the foundation pad, and PRM field service technicians are available for start-up, maintenance, and vessel replacement.

One Platform That Scales

PFAS-Snare is modular by design. A single unit fits in a ten-foot enclosure, and the platform scales up to twenty-foot and forty-foot lengths, with options for higher flow, added telemetry, and more complex manifolds. Estimated flow rates span roughly 10 to 360 GPM, with custom configurations sized to your flow and water chemistry.

It is worth being clear about scope. PFAS-Snare is designed to reduce target contaminants to acceptable regulatory levels for safer drinking water, but no treatment system guarantees complete removal under every operating condition, and media life depends on water chemistry, flow, and total volume treated. Operators are responsible for a regular lab-certified sampling program and for replacing media on breakthrough. The standard designs are exactly that: standard starting points that a licensed Professional Engineer should size and verify for the specific site.

PFAS-Snare brings PRM's treatment-system experience into a containerized, rapidly deployable package aimed squarely at the small groundwater systems that the rest of this series keeps showing are on the front line of PFAS contamination. It is available for direct purchase or as a rental.