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County seeks $250,000 for Nicholson groundwater pilot testing after PFAS testing changes
Summary
Kent County’s environmental operations team described rising laboratory costs for PFAS testing, proposed a $250,000 pilot testing and engineering budget for the Nicholson Groundwater Treatment Plant, and reported the county is no longer accruing violations after changing sampling location.
Kent County environmental operations staff told commissioners rising PFAS testing costs and persistent contaminants at the Nicholson Groundwater Treatment Plant prompted a pilot testing and design phase request.
“We meet [MDE] recommendations currently,” Environmental Operations staff member said, describing an increase in PFAS testing frequency and lab costs. Staff named Chesapeake Labs and Earthdata as longstanding lab vendors and said testing expenses have “significantly increase[d].”
Staff reported a procedural change: the county and Maryland Department of the Environment agreed to move the sampling location to the ultimate outfall after the treatment pond rather than sampling before the pond. According to staff, that change removed active violations, although staff cautioned that “something is happening in the pond that we don't want to pretend magically the contaminants are going away.”
To identify effective permanent upgrades, staff proposed a $250,000 budget covering a pilot testing program of different filter options and initial engineering design work. The amount was presented as a lower-level approach than a previously considered $4.1 million upgrade; staff said the pilot would determine the necessary screening and filtering to eliminate the contaminants.
Staff also described maintenance items in the division: a timber-tie retaining wall replacement at the Sharptown Drop-Off Center estimated at $90,000; two mowers at $26,100; and ongoing carbon filter replacements and repairs to leaking vessels at the treatment plant.
Discussion included operational questions about whether a leaking carbon filter could continue to be repaired and staff confirmation that current carbon filters were not designed to remove iron and that elements become clogged and require periodic replacement. No formal action or vote was taken during this budget presentation; staff asked for budget authority to proceed with pilot testing and design work.
Ending: Staff said pilot testing and engineering design would be the next steps and that FY26 funding would include the pilot program and design contract.
