General Notices

PFAS Removal Instructure

On March 14th, 2023 the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced proposed maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The USEPA has stated that they anticipate finalizing the regulation by the end of 2023. From the Parkersburg Utility Board’s (PUB’s) understanding and as typical with other proposed MCL announcements, a 36-month compliance period will be enacted to allow utilities time to put treatment processes in place. The PUB has already been busy working to install PFAS removal infrastructure at our Water Treatment Plant. The PUB has received a funding recommendation through the State’s Drinking Water Treatment Revolving Fund (DWTRF) Emerging Containment principal forgiveness fund.  The funding recommendation includes a $12,630,000 principle forgiveness loan, more commonly referred to as a grant.

The PUB previously solicited Burgess & Niple, Inc. to complete a preliminary engineering report for the design and construction of the PFAS removal infrastructure, and is currently in the process of selecting an Engineer to complete the final design and construction services. The currently proposed plan includes construction of an array of granular activated carbon (GAC) vessels to remove the PFAS compounds from the PUB’s finished drinking water. The GAC vessels are the same technology that has already been installed at many surrounding public water supplies and has proven extremely effective at removing PFAS compounds from groundwater sources to non-detect levels. Non-detect levels are concentrations lower than current testing methods have the ability to measure. Concurrently with the engineering selection process, the PUB is conducting a pilot study to determine operation and maintenance costs associated with the proposed GAC treatment processes.

An overview PFAS treatment technologies including GAC filters can be found on the US EPA’s website: https://www.epa.gov/sciencematters/reducing-pfas-drinking-water-treatment-technologies

The Parkersburg Utility Board strives to provide clean, safe drinking water to our valued customers and will provide updates as this process progresses forward.

Respectfully,

Parkersburg Utility Board