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Tucson Water gives quarterly PFAS update; Airport remediation and Randolph Park projects advancing
Summary
Tucson Water reported on Q4 2024 PFAS work: 22 wells proactively taken offline, an Airport remediation project under construction (completion expected Dec 2026), Randolph Park treatment planned with state and federal contributions, and ongoing Air Force remedial work at Plant 44.
Tucson Water presented its quarterly report on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the city’s water resources on Feb. 19, telling the mayor and council that monitoring and remediation projects continue across multiple sites and that funding and negotiations with responsible parties remain active.
Water Director John Kamik said the potable system “should be free of any known PFAS impacts” but that staff have identified several aquifer areas they actively avoid: “To date, we have proactively turned off 22 wells over the past few years and have restricted the use to emergency only for 8 additional wells,” Kamik said.
Kamik updated the council on several projects: - Randolph Park groundwater treatment: Tucson Water began work to install a new well and PFAS treatment to capture contaminated groundwater before it migrates toward the central well field; treated water is planned for beneficial reuse (golf-course irrigation). Funding includes prior system-conservation proceeds and an allocation from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 (the presentation cited a $2,250,000 federal contribution). - Tucson Airport Remediation Project (TARP): final designs for an AOP PFAS pretreatment project were completed in mid-2024; construction began in January 2025 and the project carries a target completion date near December 2026 and a total project cost presented to council near $26,700,000. The slide deck and staff comments noted majority funding from the State of Arizona and that discussions continued with the Tucson Airport Authority and the U.S. Air Force about reimbursement of PFAS-related costs. - Air Force Plant 44: the Air Force is conducting a remedial investigation and has begun extraction-well capture activity in areas with elevated PFAS; a final remedial investigation was expected in late 2025 and a long-term treatment plant design contract was reported to be underway with a planned completion date near 2028.
Kamik told council staff have compiled lists of affected water resources and laboratory results to support the city’s participation in product-liability settlement discussions; the court has granted preliminary approval to a proposed settlement between some defendants and municipal water providers that could include Tucson. Kamik said the city attorney will brief the mayor and council after staff complete the city’s evaluation of settlement terms.
Councilors raised accountability and funding questions; staff described ongoing negotiations with the Department of Justice (representing the Department of Defense) and other potentially responsible parties. The city continues to pursue remediation while monitoring federal grant and appropriations developments that could affect project funding and timing.
What’s next: staff continue construction work on TARP, further develop the Randolph Park treatment solution with ADEQ, and expect additional briefings on negotiation outcomes related to PFAS costs and potential settlement participation.
