Local utilities handle 'forever chemicals'

PFAS is under control in Northeast Tennessee, according to current federal standards. Most water utilities in the region meet the limits for the chemicals. This includes Johnson City Water and Sewer Services, Kingsport Water Department, Bloomingdale Utility District in Elizabethton, First Utility District of Hawkins County and the Mountain City Water Department. Erwin Utilities does not. Its highest levels of PFAS chemicals were about 1.7 times higher than federal limits. Here's what Erwin, and other local utilities, said about how they're handling the chemicals. Erwin Utilities In a statement emailed to Six Rivers Media, the utility noted that ongoing testing showed PFOA and PFOS levels, two types of PFAS, are slightly above 4 parts per trillion at one of its plants. The utility plans to run small pilot studies of different treatment types, mostly made of the granular activated carbon filtration system, to decide how to treat the chemicals. A spokesperson said the studies will be funded through a combination of general funds, loans and grants. The utility has also applied to other loans and grant opportunities to offset research and treatment costs. First Hawkins Utility District First Hawkins Utility District PFAS sampling fell under current federal standards. Jeremy Jones, FUD general manager, said that result can be confounding for some because of the industries residing along the river the utility draws water from. "Obviously, [treatment is] a number one priority to us," said Jones. A spokesperson for Eastman Chemical Co. said the company does not make PFAS at any of its manufacturing sites, including in Kingsport. A Holston Army Ammunition Plant spokesperson said it does not use any of the toxic PFAS compounds identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in manufacturing. They added that HAAP has also tested the drinking water it purchases from the City of Kingsport for several years, with results for PFAS chemicals under federal limits. Jones still wants to integrate that carbon technology into their treatment process. His goal is to build beds of granular activated carbon in a room at its water plant. It would come with a hefty price tag. "We're talking a ton of money," Jones said. He also wants his staff, who regularly interact with customers, to know the latest about PFAS. He said education and training from organizations like the EPA would help. Jones also said the availability of technology could be a challenge. "Sometimes we'll go two or three months behind on an order because we can't get it," he said. Johnson City Water and Sewer Services Tom Witherspoon, the recently retired director of Johnson City Water and Sewer Services, said in October that even though regulations will apply to the utility, it doesn't plan to invest in any new treatment systems if their levels stay low. The utility's current levels fall in line with the maximum amounts allowed for the handful of "forever chemicals" the federal government enforces. EPA data shows an average of zero for PFAS chemicals, although Witherspoon noted that the water does contain a trace of the contaminants. "We did find levels in both sources," Witherspoon said, which was expected because of the prevalence of PFAS chemicals. "Those levels were not anywhere near the levels that EPA had indicated." Kingsport Water Department The Kingsport Utilities Director Niki Ensor said much of its internal conversations about PFAS revolve around the "sensitivity of the sampling protocol that could affect results," and that it's waiting to see where the final EPA rule will land. Sampling showed the department's PFAS levels below the limit of 4 parts per trillion. "Kingsport is blessed with an abundance of high-quality source water," Ensor said in a statement to Six Rivers Media. If the department needs to treat water for other kinds of PFAS down the road, then funding would be the biggest challenge in doing so. "That is why it is so important they take the time to get the science and rule right," Ensor said. Ensor said the department reviews proposed regulations at the state and federal levels to see how it could impact operations. She said they make adjustments to their operations as needed, and needed additional treatment is rare. The department's main concerns are replacing infrastructure like pumps, pipes and valves that have aged. Mountain City Water Department Mountain City was in compliance with PFAS standards. In a statement to Six Rivers Media, the Mountain City Water Department water plants manager shared that all water sources, raw and treated, were tested for PFAS as part of the sampling process. Water was sampled at three different locations on four separate specified dates. While local utilities fall within current regulations, some environmental and public health advocates believe limits on PFAS chemicals should be stricter. Other groups representing water supply professionals say the EPA's changes to drinking water compliance for PFAS acknowledges that smaller utility systems will face challenges in treating PFAS and complying with federal standards.