A large portion of the water supply in our region is contaminated or at risk for contamination by a potentially deadly chemical substance known as Polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS.
Part three of WAAY 31's investigation explores who bares the responsibility of cleaning these toxic chemicals out of our water. Funding is a major issue as well that some water providers raise when discussing the Environmental Protection Agency’s new PFAS limitations. (Read Part One and Part Two)
"One of the initial cost estimates that we had was $70 million to $80 million. That is what it is going to cost us to retrofit this plant with a reverse osmosis pretreatment to remove PFAS, " said Taylor Cole, manager for the city of Florence Water and Gas Department.
Most water utilities in North Alabama don't have the millions of dollars needed to remove this potentially deadly chemical combination in most of our viewing area's drinking water. WAAY 31 questioned whether residents will ultimately be burdened with paying for the systems that are needed to remove PFAS from tap water.
Cole said that is possible.
"Yes, directly or indirectly. Our department being the water wastewater gas department, we see nothing from taxes. Our revenue is strictly from ratepayers and so just like with everything else, if the cost of something goes up, you know, the likelihood of us having to go up on rates is very likely, " Cole said.
The EPA announced in April its first-ever national rule limiting the allowed PFAS showing up in tested drinking water.
The EPA's ultimate goal is zero PFAS, but for now the new rule is four to ten parts per trillion for some of the contaminants.
PFAS are not only found in our water but are used in nonstick frying pans, water-repellent sports gear, stain-resistant rugs, cosmetics, and countless other consumer products. The chemical bonds are so strong that they do not degrade or do so only slowly in the environment and remain in a person’s bloodstream indefinitely.
"The regulations that are being put on us by our ADEM and by EPA, we're going to have to meet those regulations that are set forward," Cole explained.
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management sent a statement to WAAY 31 regarding the money needed to remove PFAS from water in our area and across the state of Alabama.
It said in part, ADEM has informed water systems of funding opportunities related to PFAS. To date, it has provided two years of funding totaling about $32 million to address contaminants. The agency says this flow of funds will continue to be available through 2026. While $32 million may sound like a lot, Taylor Cole said it could cost at $70 million to remove PFAS from water in Florence alone.
Officials at Albertville's Municipal Utilities Board gave WAAY 31 a tour of their facilities and operations. They said they are currently allocating the money that's necessary to ensure clean water for their customers. "We are trying to determine the cost. I can tell you, it's in the tens of millions and the operational costs are triple our operational costs," said Elden Chumley, general manager for Albertville's Municipal Utilities Board.
On Monday, June 24, WAAY 31 will break down which water providers are diligently working to eradicate these dangerous chemicals in our drinking water and how they are doing so.
President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is aimed at addressing PFAS pollution. The Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities grant program was created for states to provide grants to public water systems in small or disadvantaged communities to address emerging contaminants, including PFAS.
The EPA is making available a total of $5 billion for fiscal years 2022-2026 in grant funding to help communities that are on the frontlines of PFAS contamination to reduce PFAS in drinking water in communities facing disproportionate impacts.
Environmental and public health groups hailed the new PFAS rule as a good first step. Advocates have long urged action on PFAS after thousands of communities detected PFAS chemicals in their water. PFAS chemicals have been confirmed at nearly 400 military installations and at least 200 million people in the United States are drinking water contaminated with PFAS, according to the Environmental Working Group, a research and advocacy organization.
WAAY 31 special report on PFAS found in drinking water.
Reducing PFAS in Your Drinking Water with a Home Filter
The contact person for the EPA's regional office in charge of Alabama is Janine Morris at morris.janine@epa.gov
Factsheet from the White House on the Biden administration's efforts to protect communities from PFAS in drinking water.
