Calgon Carbon Invests Nearly $100 Million to Expand Drinking Water Carbon Reactivation Capacity at its Columbus, Ohio, Plant

Executive Summary

• Calgon Carbon announced a nearly $100 million investment, backed by parent Kuraray Co., Ltd., to add ~27 million lb/yr of drinking‑water carbon reactivation capacity at its Columbus, Ohio plant, with operations slated for Q1 2028.
• The expansion positions the company to meet accelerating EPA PFAS compliance demand (deadline 2031) and supports a broader domestic growth strategy that includes a new Tyger River Plant in Moore, South Carolina.
• The project underscores Calgon Carbon’s proprietary thermal reactivation technology, which achieves >99.9 % PFAS destruction and reduces greenhouse‑gas emissions by up to 80 % versus virgin carbon production.

Key Details

• Investment Size: Nearly $100 million (fully funded by Kuraray).
• Capacity Added: ~27 million pounds per year of drinking‑water carbon reactivation capacity at Columbus plant.
• Timeline: Construction underway; start‑up expected in Q1 2028.
• Regulatory Context: Expansion aligns with EPA PFAS drinking‑water regulations (compliance required by April 2031) and anticipated stricter state‑level requirements.
• Facility Enhancements: Addition of two potable‑water kilns and supporting infrastructure; Columbus plant already NSF/ANSI Standard 61 certified for potable water reactivation.
• Tyger River Plant: New 83‑acre site secured in Moore, SC; development announced to further expand drinking‑water carbon reactivation capacity for the Southeast U.S. market.
• Technology Claims: Proprietary thermal reactivation destroys adsorbed PFAS to below detectable levels; peer‑reviewed study reports >99.9 % PFAS destruction with no detectable PFAS or incomplete combustion products in emissions.
• Environmental Benefits: Reactivation reduces GHG emissions by up to 80 % versus virgin carbon production and eliminates landfill disposal of spent carbon, providing a circular solution for utilities.
• Strategic Program: Expansion builds on “Operation Bedrock” (launched 2025) aimed at delivering domestic, tariff‑free activated carbon supply to U.S. water utilities amid global trade volatility.

Notable Quotes

"Calgon Carbon has spent more than 80 years building the technology, infrastructure, and expertise that make investments like this possible," said Steve Schott, President & CEO.
"We have the largest reactivation network in the world… our customers are preparing for the largest regulatory shift in drinking water treatment in a generation." — Jenalle Brewer, SVP Drinking Water Solutions & Global Business Development.