Board hears update on PFAS testing; no detections in drinking water so far

A board member asked about recent state legislation (transcript phrased it as "house bill 10 19") and whether the city is monitoring for PFAS in wastewater and biosolids. Director Jason Shondra said the city has been performing PFAS testing on drinking water for several years and has not recorded a detection in the drinking-water supply.

On the wastewater side, Shondra said recent permit modifications require testing of effluent and biosolids, with an initial round of samples scheduled this late summer/early fall. "We've not had a hit for PFAS in our drinking water," he said. "On the wastewater front... we have required testing. I believe it's in August, September, or October, to do a first round of testing. I believe it's on the effluent as well as on the biosolids at each of our facilities."

Shondra cautioned that PFAS compounds are widespread in consumer products and that biosolids may concentrate PFAS; he said the regulatory framework for required wastewater actions is still evolving and the state is collecting data to decide action levels and downstream limits. The board requested staff to report test results back to the board when available.