In April 2024, the U.S. EPA issued National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), prompting utilities across the country to prepare for new treatment requirements. While the agency has indicated that compliance deadlines may be adjusted, many utilities are proactively planning for PFAS treatment—often for the first time. Because PFAS treatment technologies are relatively new to most utilities, operational challenges may not become evident until systems are fully deployed. This presentation will explore how utilities can effectively translate investigative study results into full-scale PFAS treatment design and operation. Drawing on lessons learned from The City of Woodbury, MN, which has been addressing PFAS in its groundwater since the mid-2000s, the session will focus on four key areas: 1. Designing Effective PFAS Studies Study protocols should align with specific objectives—whether evaluating media performance or assessing how water quality variations impact exhaustion rates. Practical guidelines will be shared to help utilities structure studies that yield actionable insights. 2. Interpreting Study Data Across Scales The reliability of study data depends heavily on the scale and methodology used. This section will highlight differences between bench-scale, pilot-scale, and full-scale data, emphasizing the limitations and considerations when extrapolating results. 3. Translating Study Criteria into Full-Scale Design Investigative studies often operate under conditions that differ from full-scale systems. This segment will present strategies for incorporating resiliency and performance buffers into full-scale designs to enhance reliability. 4. Planning for Operational Flexibility Longer-duration pilot studies can reveal critical operational needs such as prefiltration, backwashing, and media regeneration. Attendees will learn how to design studies that capture the right system parameters to inform flexible, adaptive operations. The presentation will be anchored by data and experiences from Woodbury’s comprehensive PFAS response, which includes a four-stage investigation—RSSCTs, bench isotherm analysis, short-loaded pilot columns, and a long-term pilot study—as well as over five years of operating a temporary treatment facility while a centralized plant is under construction.