Milwaukie reports PFAS detections in some production wells; city to study treatment options, seek federal funds and join litigation

Peter Pasquale, Milwaukie public works director, told the council the city has detected PFAS chemicals in groundwater at or near some of its production wells and outlined next steps including pilot testing, a feasibility study, federal funding applications and participation in manufacturer settlement claims.

Why it matters: Milwaukie draws its drinking water from groundwater wells. Federal drinking-water limits announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in April 2024 set maximum contaminant levels and trigger compliance monitoring and potential treatment requirements for community water systems; Pasquale said the city’s detection pattern means the community is likely to need treatment to meet those new limits.

What Pasquale told the council: - Regulatory baseline: Pasquale said the EPA announced drinking-water limits in April 2024 for six PFAS compounds. He reported that the agency set the limits for PFOA and PFOS at 4 parts per trillion and set limits for several other PFAS compounds at 10 parts per…