Resident raises PFAS and biosolids concerns during Fort Worth public comment

FORT WORTH — During the public-comment portion of the March 25 Fort Worth City Council meeting, Lou Anne Langley of Grandview, Texas urged the city to sever ties with contractors who spread municipal biosolids and pressed council members on whether the city has tested its biosolids for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Langley said she grew up following previous odor and biosolids complaints and described health and property impacts she and other residents reported in areas where biosolids have been applied. She said she had previously spoken to the council about biosolids and called for public disclosure of testing and for action to protect residents and farmland.

"What are your plans moving forward to ensure the safety of your biosolid products? Has the city of Fort Worth done any PFAS testing on your biosolids? If so, where can we see those results?" Langley asked the council. She also referenced ongoing investigations in Johnson County and asked how cancelling the city's contract with Synagro would address families who say they were harmed.

Langley said some Johnson County officials and law enforcement have been involved in inquiries and that residents near the Village Creek Treatment Plant had experienced odors and impacts for years. She asked whether the city planned to release any test results to the public and urged council members to consider the effects of biosolid applications on residents, livestock and property values.

Why it matters

PFAS are a class of persistent chemicals that have drawn federal and state attention in recent years; testing and remedies for PFAS in biosolids and wastewater solids have been the subject of state and local inquiries in multiple jurisdictions. Public questions to the council focused on transparency of testing and the city's contractual relationship with companies that manage biosolids.

What the council did

At the March 25 meeting, Langley's remarks were part of the public-comment record; council members did not take immediate action on the questions during the meeting. The meeting transcript shows Langley asked for test results and policy clarification; the council did not provide a response on the record at that time.

Next steps

Council members or staff may follow up with Langley or neighborhood stakeholders and may provide or publish any city testing results or policy updates through departmental communications. The city's solid-waste and utilities departments would be the offices to contact for test data and contract status updates.