TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Testing results provided by the City of Tallahassee show that the water sprayed out of nozzles at the city’s wastewater spray field contains acceptable levels of PFAS.
The announcement comes after area scientists called on both the state and local governments to test the spray field for PFAS, also known as the “forever chemical,” because it does not break down.
However, Alissa Meyers, the director of environmental services, said testing revealed a city-owned drinking water well in Woodville was over acceptable levels, finding more than seven parts per trillion in the water there. Upcoming federal government standards call for less than four parts per trillion.
A city official said that while there’s not yet any standard level for wastewater, the spray fields’ PFAS levels are actually below what would be acceptable for drinking water at under 2.5 parts per trillion.
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In response to Woodville’s high PFAS levels, the city said it’s paying for a pilot program to find a way to potentially mitigate the PFAS there by installing a filter. The Florida Department of Health will also provide a free filter to those with unacceptable levels of PFAS in their private wells.
While the Woodville well had a high reading, the city is currently mitigating the problem by diluting the highly concentrated Woodville water with other water from the city’s 20-plus wells.
The city’s testing revealed some of the area’s highest levels of PFAS are at Leon County’s Solid Waste Management Facility, where readings came in at about 800 parts per trillion, far above the acceptable four parts per trillion.
However, by the time the water from the landfill reaches the spray field, it is back below acceptable drinking water standards. When asked, Meyers said it would be up to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to determine what the significant contributors of PFAS in the area are, since it’s not the spray field.
The results this week were sampled by the city, Meyers said, while test results from the state government remain pending.
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