Mount Airy approves $90,000 purchase to expand water‑treatment site for PFAS remediation

The Mount Airy Town Council voted March 2 to approve a purchase-and-sale agreement to buy roughly 0.1515 acres of the Mount Airy Apartments parcel for $90,000 to expand the town’s Water Station No. 2 and support PFAS remediation efforts.

Town Attorney Tom McCarron (speaker 22) described the terms: a $5,000 deposit into an interest-bearing account credited toward the purchase price, a 60-day study period following execution, and a closing about 30 days after the study period. The acreage abuts the town’s existing water-treatment parcel where the town plans to add treatment capacity.

Mayor (speaker 1) and staff explained funding will come from PFAS-remediation funds (including recoveries from litigation and anticipated state forgivable loans). Staff noted some costs will have to be forward-funded and then reimbursed through Maryland Department of the Environment grant/loan programs once milestone conditions are met.

Council moved, seconded and approved the purchase by voice vote; the public transcript records an affirmative outcome. Councilmembers asked clarifying questions about which water station this parcel serves (Water Station 2) and whether other stations with higher PFAS levels will be prioritized; staff said design work is proceeding for all stations and that prioritization would follow the design phase and available funding.

The purchase clears a property step necessary to place treatment equipment on town-owned land and advance PFAS remediation plans for the town’s water system.