Abstract <p>Effective mitigation of biofouling is crucial for maintaining the performance of many industrial systems. Among the various remediation options, electromagnetic fields (EMF) are emerging as a sustainable, energy-efficient approach, especially in the context of water and wastewater treatment. This study explores the influence of radio frequency EMF on both the inhibition and eradication of biofilms, with a specific focus on <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> ATCC 9027 bacteria as well as a consortium of microbes from landfill leachate (LFL). The application of EMF for biofilm control significantly inhibited the development of <i>P. aeruginosa</i> biofilms by 97.5% within 10 days, dramatically reducing the colony-forming units (CFU) from 2.8 × 10⁸ to 7.1 × 10⁶ CFU/ml. Additionally, the technology effectively prevented LFL biofilm formation by 99.5%, cutting down the CFU count from 2.6 × 10⁵ to just 1.2 × 10³ CFU/ml in the same time span, thereby showcasing remarkable efficacy in biofilm inhibition. On the other hand, the device’s effectiveness in eradicating pre-formed&#xa0;biofilms was also assessed. Specifically, the eradication rates for <i>P. aeruginosa</i> and LFL biofilms were 63.9% and 74.8%, respectively, for films experiencing 5 days of maturation. For <i>P. aeruginosa</i> biofilms that had matured over 15 days, the EMF achieved 44% eradication. Notably, in all scenarios, the device exhibited its most significant effects during the initial phases of activation. These results not only underscore the potential of EMF technology in combating biofouling within water and wastewater treatment systems, but also pave the way for future research and practical applications in other industries.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>