HERMISTON, Ore.-Hermiston City Council passed a resolution approving a plan to remove per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from the City’s drinking water, and another seeking state funding for improvements to the water system at its regular meeting on August 10.
A PFAS Mitigation Feasibility Study prepared by Anderson Perry & Associates and presented to the City Council during its July 27 work session found PFAS in three of Hermiston’s water sources, with several concentrations exceeding new federal standards that public drinking water systems must meet by 2029.
City Council officially adopted the PFAS Mitigation Feasibility Study as Hermiston’s plan for removing PFAS from the municipal water system on August 10.
The plan includes installing treatment and filtration at Well #5, decommissioning Wells #2 and #4, and maximizing use of the Regional Water Treatment Plant to provide additional water to the City, at an estimated construction cost of $26 million for the improvements.
According to the City, adoption of the study does not authorize construction or make any financial commitment, and future decisions on implementation of the plan will return to the City Council for consideration.
City Council also passed a resolution authorizing Hermiston to apply to the Oregon Health Authority’s Safe Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund Emerging Contaminants Program.
The program provides forgivable loan funding for projects addressing emerging drinking water contaminants, with a focus on PFAS, however, the amount of funding that could be forgiven is not yet known, according to the City.
Hermiston is also participating in pending class-action litigation against PFAS manufacturers that could provide additional revenue toward the cost of improvements.
