Vice mayor and staff flag PFAS as a county priority; staff to prepare a countywide status report

Vice Mayor Mark Bogan, newly appointed to the Water Advisory Board, raised per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as his primary focus for the year and urged county action; Broward County staff said they will make PFAS the main topic at the next meeting.

Bogan described concerns that some local water providers are allowing PFAS to remain at detectable levels in drinking water and said he will conduct outreach in his district and through media about options to remove PFAS, including reverse osmosis. Several board members, including Council Member Susan Starkey and Commissioner Goode, described state and national efforts and legislative activity addressing PFAS and pledged support for county coordination. Dr. Hirado reported that staff circulated a survey to public and private utility directors to collect information about planning, treatment goals and whether utilities intend to implement full PFAS removal beyond any federal or state limits.

Members directed staff to prepare a countywide status report summarizing utilities’ responses to the survey, planning timelines, technologies considered (for example, reverse osmosis and other removal methods), and potential funding avenues. Staff said they will coordinate responses and return with a fuller program at a future meeting.

Ending — Board members asked that PFAS be the major program at the next joint meeting so members and municipal representatives can review the countywide status report and discuss funding and technical assistance options.