Summary: Since Willow Park uses not only its own City well water but also surface water from Fort Worth, Willow Park Citizens need to pay attention to the quality of both water sources. Willow Park will start testing for PFAS in 2024; Fort Worth has been testing since mid-2023. But remediation of PFAS is going to be expensive.
Latest Update: updated 26 April 2024 Resource article; posted 17 April, 2024
Tags: #FortWorthWater
"Forever Chemicals" in Willow Park well water and Fort Worth water.
Since Willow Park uses not only its own City well water but also surface water from Fort Worth, Willow Park Citizens need to pay attention to the quality of both water sources. Now the EPA has released new standards for PFAS in our drinking water, city water authorities can start remediation. And it's going to be expensive.
Under the Environmental Protection Agency’s final regulations announced Wednesday [11 April 2024], public water systems across the U.S. must monitor for six PFAS chemicals in drinking water and take action to reduce contamination if they are above acceptable levels. [1]
Willow Park well water has not been tested. During the 12 December 2023, and the 19 March 2024 Council Meetings, the City addressed the focus on PFAS or "Forever Chemical" on our water. City Administrator Grimes, explained,
"Willow Park has not gone through the official EPA testing but we're scheduled to have some in 2024. We've had some unofficial testing performed by the state and there are currently no signs of the chemicals in the groundwater.
"Fort Worth has been through the official testing and some surface water resources were positive for some of the chemicals and obviously we get our surface water or our treated water from Fort Worth. But the extent of the contamination is not known until the EPA says the maximum containment level." [3]
Since Fort Worth now has its EPA PFAS monitoring and reduction requirements, Fort Worth Water Authority will have a target for water quality measurement and correction. [2]
• The city is bringing new equipment online in the next few months that will improve Fort Worth’s capacity to consistently monitor for PFAS chemicals...
• Fort Worth will initiate monthly testing starting in July [2023]
• City staff will also implement a sampling plan for wastewater to monitor how industrial sites are discharging PFAS chemicals into the waste collection system.
The cost of increased testing is pocket change compared to the high cost of removing PFAS chemicals from drinking water, Harder said. [2]
Under the Environmental Protection Agency’s final regulations announced Wednesday, public water systems across the U.S. must monitor for six PFAS chemicals in drinking water and take action to reduce contamination if they are above acceptable levels. [1]
Most Americans have been exposed to the chemicals through drinking water, food packaging, stain-resistant fabrics and fire extinguishing foam, among other consumer products, according to the EPA. [1]
Sources and Research
• What you need to know about toxic “forever chemicals” the EPA is restricting, The Texas Tribune, 22 April 2024
[1] How will EPA rules on ‘forever chemicals’ affect Fort Worth water? City says it’s ready. Fort Worth Report, 11 April 2024, Excerpts.
Under the Environmental Protection Agency’s final regulations announced Wednesday, public water systems across the U.S. must monitor for six PFAS chemicals in drinking water and take action to reduce contamination if they are above acceptable levels.
PFAS are known as “forever chemicals” because they build up in the environment and people’s bodies rather than break down. Exposure to high levels of PFAS has been linked to increased risk of cancers, developmental delays in children, decreased fertility and reduced ability to fight infections. Most Americans have been exposed to the chemicals through drinking water, food packaging, stain-resistant fabrics and fire extinguishing foam, among other consumer products, according to the EPA.
Water utilities must complete initial testing and make the results publicly available by 2027. If testing shows that the water system’s PFAS levels are above federal limits, the utility has five years — until 2029 — to implement solutions that reduce and remove PFAS from the water supply.
[2] ‘Forever chemicals’ are in Fort Worth’s drinking water. Here’s how the city plans to address new regulations, Fort Worth Report, 20 May 2023, Excerpts
Chris Harder, the city’s water director, said Fort Worth isn’t waiting for the rule to be finalized before taking action on PFAS contamination. The city is bringing new equipment online in the next few months that will improve Fort Worth’s capacity to consistently monitor for PFAS chemicals, he said.
Fort Worth will initiate monthly testing starting in July, in addition to federally mandated testing that began in January. City staff will also implement a sampling plan for wastewater to monitor how industrial sites are discharging PFAS chemicals into the waste collection system, according to the city’s website.
The cost of increased testing is pocket change compared to the high cost of removing PFAS chemicals from drinking water, Harder said.
The city’s first round of results was published in late May [2023]. Out of 29 PFAS variants, seven chemicals were detected in Fort Worth’s water system.
The average amount of two PFAS chemicals – PFOS and PFOA – found in Fort Worth’s lab samples would meet the EPA’s proposed standards, which limit those chemicals to 4 parts per trillion.
[3] Willow Park Civics Blog > Willow Park rejects class action lawsuit on "forever chemicals" in our water - well and Fort Worth. posted 12 December 2023, updated 19 March 2024
• Willow Park Civics Blog > 28 November 2023 Council Meeting, posted 27 November 2023
During the 28 November 2023 Council Meeting, Agenda Item 5, approved "a resolution opting out of the Class Action lawsuit against 3M, Dupont and other PFAS manufacturers, arising out of PFAS chemicals.
City Administrator Grimes, explained, (10:49 in meeting video)
Willow Park has not gone through the official EPA testing but we're scheduled to have some in 2024. We've had some unofficial testing performed by the state and there are currently no signs of the chemicals in the groundwater.
Fort Worth has been through the official testing and some surface water resources were positive for some of the chemicals and obviously we get our surface water or our treated water from Fort Worth. But the extent of the contamination is not known until the EPA says the maximum containment level.
By opting out the city would have an opportunity to pursue additional compensation in the future as well as receive money for our own expenses.
Fort Worth's concern is that the cost to treat and to remove these forever chemicals will greatly outweigh the settlement received and the utilities will be forever responsible for the cost.
Willow Park is in a unique situation while we purchase water for Fort Worth we also continue to produce and treat our own water. Currently the chemicals of concern are not showing up on our groundwater but this could change in the future.
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