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CITY COUNCIL <br />WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />ITEM NO. 6 <br />STAFF ORIGINATOR: Michael Grochala, Community Development Director <br />WORK SESSION DATE: November 4, 2024 <br />TOPIC: PFAS Update <br />BACKGROUND <br />Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a family of man-made chemical compounds that <br />persist in the environment for long periods of time. They are often called "forever chemicals." <br />For decades, PFAS chemicals have been used in industry and consumer products such as <br />nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, and stain resistant furniture. These chemicals have <br />been important for certain industries and uses. And the latest science shows that these <br />chemicals are harmful to our health. <br />In Minnesota, PFAS contamination was first measured in the eastern Twin Cities in the early <br />2000s. Since then, PFAS have been detected in water, sediment, soil, and fish across Minnesota. <br />PFAS are in air emissions from industrial facilities, wastewater from industrial and municipal <br />sources, soil and water surrounding firefighting training sites, groundwater surrounding <br />landfills, and are sometimes found with no obvious source at all. <br />In April of 2024 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established National Primary <br />Drinking Water Regulations for six particular PFAS compounds including Maximum Contaminant <br />Levels (MCLs) for PFOA and PFOS. In addition, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has <br />established health -based guidance values for six PFAS compounds that are used to calculate a <br />health risk index (HRI). <br />The city annually tests its 6 wells for a number of potential contaminants in accordance with <br />MDH requirements. Recent PFAS results for one of the City wells, Well No. 2, exceeded new <br />regulatory limits set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA in April 2024. The PFOA <br />concentration measured in Well No. 2 exceeds the new EPA MCL for PFOA. Results received <br />from other wells indicated that, where present, PFAS levels are well below regulatory <br />guidelines. <br />Well No. 2 has not been used since 2019 due to its poor water quality. It has the highest <br />manganese concentrations of the six wells, exceeding MDH health guidelines, and in addition, <br />its iron and manganese concentrations are an aesthetic concern because they can cause <br />