This project aims to optimize and further scale up an in-line flow-through and chemical-free UV treatment train towards commercializingpfas destruction in agricultural and food industry applications

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded $650,000 to Water Illumination Inc. on September 1, 2026, under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program (CFDA 10.212) to optimize and scale up an in-line flow-through, chemical-free UV treatment system for destroying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in agricultural and food industry water applications.

Water Illumination Inc., a minority-owned, woman-owned small business, will develop and optimize a pilot-scale UV system that destroys PFAS in irrigation water and food processing water resources—including groundwater and recycled municipal wastewater effluent—without generating secondary waste or toxic byproducts. The project addresses PFAS contamination risks in nontraditional water reuse for crop production and focuses on scaling the treatment train and automating the UV destruction process for commercial viability in agriculture and food industry settings.

Performance occurs in Lake Forest, California, with a period of performance from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2028. The funding directly supports USDA program priorities in water quantity and quality, and conservation of natural resources, aiming to improve agriculture sustainability and health through an innovative PFAS treatment technology enabling cost-effective water reuse.

The project addresses pressing global contamination risks of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - also known as forever chemicals - in irrigation water and food processing water resources, e.g., groundwater and recycled municipal wastewater effluent through a novel destruction technology. The ability to completely destroy PFAS in ambient environment using chemical-free UV light without generating secondary waste or toxic byproducts will facilitate new and commercially viable technologies to mitigate PFAS and enable cost-effective nontraditional water reuse for crop production. The overarching goal is supported by well-designedtasks to scale upan in-line flow-through pilot-scale UV system and optimize the UV treatment train and its automationfor PFAS destruction in agricuture and food industry. The project directly addressestheprogram area priorities on water quantity and quality, and conservation of natural resources. IT will improve agriculture sustainability and health by developing an innovative PFAS treatment for non-traditional water irrigation and water reuse.