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Utilities manager outlines PFAS study scope, consultant selection and 12-month timeline
Summary
Prescott Utilities reported progress negotiating with a consultant to complete a PFAS site evaluation and treatment-cost analysis; the city expects technical memos in phases and a full report within about 12 months to guide treatment decisions for affected wells.
Steve Wolfers, Utilities Manager, updated the council subcommittee on water issues on March 4 about the city's PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) response and the scope for a statement of qualifications (SOQ) to hire a consultant.
Wolfers said the city issued the SOQ in November'December, held a mandatory pre-proposal conference in December, received six proposals, and is negotiating scope and fee with the top-ranked firm. He said the selected team is from Phoenix and includes local experts; the city remains in negotiations and will not yet name the firm.
The requested scope will evaluate about 10 wells (nine currently identified), consider single-site treatment and whole-flow treatment options, compare treating individual airport wells versus centralized treatment, review costs to drill a replacement well if an airport well cannot be returned to service, and include contaminant-transport modeling as a potential phase-two item. Wolfers said the study will examine 20-year capital and operations-and-maintenance costs (instead of 10 years) and provide a full cost-analysis report and public meetings.
Wolfers emphasized the immediate priority is to return Airport Well 5 (AP5) to service if feasible. He said the consultant's deliverables will come in chapters/technical memos so the city can begin decision-making before the final report is issued. The team also will evaluate whether treatment systems should be sized to remove PFAS only or to capture a broader set of contaminants; one council member urged a comprehensive approach.
A subcommittee member asked about trends in PFOS levels; Wolfers said quarterly sampling shows only small changes and no dramatic shifts. Wolfers estimated a target timeframe of about 12 months for a complete report and said the study results will be used to pursue grants and to inform capital budget decisions.
Ending Wolfers said staff would bring the study's memos and the final report to the subcommittee and to council as they become available; the city intends public outreach and at least two public meetings as part of the consultant's scope.
