Prescott Valley approves contract for recharge-facility expansion amid PFAS questions

The Prescott Valley Town Council on Nov. 13 approved a professional services agreement with Matrix New World Engineering for planning and permitting to expand the town’s recharge facility along the Agua Fria River.

Town staff and the consultant said the project is a two-phase effort to increase surface area for infiltration, collect soils and hydraulic data, and update groundwater-flow models to pursue additional recharge credits with the Arizona Department of Water Resources and, if necessary, permit changes with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. The presenter said three firms responded to the request for qualifications and Matrix New World Engineering scored highest.

Council discussion included a question about PFAS in the town’s effluent. A council member asked whether the expansion could spread PFAS or other contaminants to existing well fields. The presenter said the expansion was sited and scoped to avoid flowing through existing well fields and that five wells in the system have PFAS detections; they said they did not foresee the expansion causing elevated risk to other wells but could not offer an absolute guarantee.

The contract was approved by unanimous vote. The transcript records inconsistent financial figures: earlier in the presentation the consultant stated total fees of "$148,042" with a first-phase cap of "$78,860," while the motion and vote recorded a contract amount of "$7,078,600" over two years. The council approved the motion as presented at the meeting; the town should publish the executed contract and scope of work to clarify the correct contract value and phased payment schedule.

Staff estimated permitting would likely be completed by fall 2027, subject to ADWR and ADEQ processes. The council approved the agreement and directed staff to proceed with planning and permitting work.