Evansville utility board approves PFAS testing expansion, multiple engineering contracts and updated procurement rules

The Evansville Water and Sewer Utility Board on March 18 approved a series of contracts and policy changes, including expanded quarterly testing for PFAS at wastewater plants and 18 lift stations, engineering agreements for sewer modeling and inspections, an arc-flash study of lift stations and an updated purchasing policy and vendor master service agreement template.

Board action came during the utility's regular meeting, where members approved the consent agenda (minutes and payroll), an easement administrative settlement and a title change, then adopted the series of items described below.

The board approved an agreement with PACE Analytical Services for quarterly testing of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances at the utility’s wastewater treatment plants and at 18 lift stations. Kimberly Early, a utility staff member, told the board the additional lift-station sampling is intended to help determine where PFAS is entering the collection system. Early said the quarterly cost is $24,854.10, for an annual total of $99,416.40. She said the 18 lift stations were…