Open House - Emerging Water Contaminant - PFASAimee Brunckhorst
From:
City Clerk <|istserv@dvcp|us.com>
Sent:
Monday, March 4,2O244:S6PM
To:
Aimee8runckhorst
Subject:
EXTERNAL UPDATE: OPEN HOUSE - Consumer Drinking Water Notice
Follow 0pFlag: Follow up
Flag Status: Completed
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The City ofKalispell will beholding anopen house onThursday, March 7.2O24 from 3pmto7pmonthe recent
consumer drinking water notice regarding per- and po|yf|uoroa|ky|substances (PFAS) sent March 1.2O24. City staff
will be available to answer questions and provide information on the emerging contaminant regu|ations, health
advisory references, city sample results and city actions.
Below is the previous notice sent 3-1-24 for reference and additional information.
The Kalispell public water system has found per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)intwo ofthe eleven drinking
source water well sites. At this time, PFAS is not regulated, however the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
provided health advisories regarding PFAS.
The largest amount of PFAS detected in the affected wells was 6.6 parts per trillion (ppt). This equates to less than 7
drops inanOlympic size swimming pool. The water then blends with other sources of drinking water before making it
to your tap. The EPA's health advisories are listed at.02 for the PFAS detected, however current testing methods
cannot detect below 4 ppt. Taking the affected wells off|ine is not an option at this time as the remaining supply
would not beenough tocover demand.
The City of Kalispell is working to collect more information and examining available options to address PFAS in the
drinking water supply. Meanwhile, the best action a consumer can take is to learn more about PFAS, and the steps
that can betaken to reduce risks associated with possible health effects ofexposure to PFAS. The US Environmental
Protection Agencyvvebsite has valuable information and steps that can be taken to reduce risk. A summary of this
information and links is provided at the bottom of this notice.
What is lKaU^speUUIlDo^ng?
o Follow up sampling is being conducted at Kalispell PWS well sites. Additional sampling will be performed in
March and August of 2024. The data obtained from the additional sampling will contribute to validating the
accuracy and reliability ofthe PFAS detection from the source water.
o Kalispell isexamining available options toaddress PFAS inthe drinking water supply and will keep you
informed.
o Drinking water systems can reduce concentrations of PFAS through the blending ofwater sources. In
Kalispell's case we are already blending the water from the detected well sources with the City's other PFAS
free well sources.
o Kalispell is looking into funding sources through the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to replace
the wells ifthat becomes necessary.
o Kalispell has created awebsjteto provide the public with information and
resources.
o As the city gathers more information and evaluates options, information will be released to the public. Sign up
to the ell'Not
system tosign upfor puNicsen/iceannouncements and press releases.
o An open house will be scheduled soon so questions can be asked in person. Stay tuned for more details.
What can You Do?
o Learn more about PFA's-information and links are provided below.
o If you are concerned about levels of PFAS in your drinking water, contact your doctor or health care
professional.
o Consider actions that may reduce your exposure including installing home orpoint of use filter, if possible,
while steps are being taken tofurther understand levels ofconcern.
o Boi|ing, freezing, orletting water stand does not reduce PFAS levels.
o Review EPA's
o After reviewing the information and links provided, if you have additional questions, please contact the City
of Kalispell's Utility Management Superintendent Joe Schrader at 406-758-7989, or .
orPublic Works Director Susie Turner at4O6-758-7852.or .
PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that have been in use since the 1940s. PFAS are (or have been) found in a
wide variety of consumer products and as an ingredient in firefighting foam. PFAS manufacturing and processing
fad|ities, airports, and military installations are some of the contributors of PFAS releases into the air, soil, and water.
Because oftheir widespread use, most people have been exposed to PFAS and there is evidence that exposure to
certain PFAS may lead toadverse health effects.
o PFAS are widely used, long lasting chemicals, components ofwhich break down very slowly over time.
o Because oftheir widespread use and their persistence in the environment many PFAS are found in the blood
of people and animals all over the world and are present at low levels in a variety of food products and in the
environment.
0 PFAS are found in water, air, fish, and soil at locations across the nation and the globe.
o There are thousands of PFAS chemicals, and they are found in many different consumer, commercial, and
industrial products. This makes it challenging to study and assess the potential human health and
environmental risks.
For information onPF0S.PF0A.PFBS GenXchemicals and other PFAS, including possible health outcomes, you may
visit these vvebsites:
o
o Basic information, EPA actions to address PFAS and links to informational resources
o Health infomnation, exposure. and links to additional resources for PFAS in drinking water
END 0FNOTICE ###
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