Title
MOTION TO APPROVE THE TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM PRODUCED BY THE CITY’S GENERAL WATER CONSULTANT CAROLLO TITLED "PFAS TREATMENT FEASIBILITY EVALUATION", DATED MARCH 2025, AND TO APPROVE A REQUEST TO ADVERTISE AN RFQ TO PROCURE ENGINEERING SERVICES TO DESIGN THE RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS BY WAIVING SECTION 35.19(A) OF THE CITY’S CODE OF ORDINANCES, WHICH REQUIRES ALL SEALED COMPETITIVE SOLICITATIONS TO BE PRESENTED TO THE CITY COMMISSION FOR CONSIDERATION PRIOR TO ADVERTISEMENT.
Summary Explanation and Background
SUMMARY EXPLANATION AND BACKGROUND:
1. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are persistent synthetic compounds that have been used in a variety of industrial and consumer product applications including non-stick cookware and firefighting foams. The first PFAS compound was invented in 1938, and manufacturing of the product began in the 1950’s.
2. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was first alerted to the risks of PFAS in 1998, which were described as human-made "forever chemicals" that "never break down once released.” The presence of PFAS compounds in source water used for drinking is of increasing public concern due to their widespread use and environmental persistence.
2. On December 27, 2021, EPA published its fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5), which was a rule requiring drinking water utilities to conduct monitoring for 29 PFAS compounds. The data was to be collected during the period 2023 - 2025, with the intent that EPA may use the monitoring data to develop additional, future regulations.
3. Utilities Department Staff arranged for this testing, as required, in March 2023 and again in September 2023. PFAS compounds were detected in both tests, at concentrations that were below the EPA Health Advisory Level in place at the time.
4. On March 14, 2023, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced proposed regulatory standards for six PFAS compounds. Based on the UCMR 5 tes...
Click here for full text