Stuart approves $323,093 pilot study to test short‑chain PFAS removal at water plant
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Summary
The City of Stuart approved a $323,093.40 budget amendment to run a six‑month pilot testing resins and treatment options for short‑chain PFAS at the municipal water treatment plant; the study is funded from water/sewer reserves and may be partially reimbursed if a pending grant is awarded.
The City of Stuart commission on Feb. 1 approved Resolution 12‑2026 to fund a short‑chain PFAS removal pilot study at the municipal water treatment plant, authorizing a task order not to exceed $323,093.40 to Oltz Consulting Engineers under the city's existing engineering agreement.
The pilot is designed to evaluate treatment performance, operational impacts and potential costs under real‑world conditions and is scheduled to start mobilization in February with a six‑month active testing window, staff said. Utilities and engineering director Peter Kuenan told commissioners the city’s finished drinking water meets current federal and state standards and that the item is proactive, not an emergency response.
"We identified short‑chain PFAS in source water under EPA's unregulated contaminant monitoring rule; these compounds are not currently regulated in finished drinking water at the same levels as PFOA/PFOS," Kuenan said. "This pilot positions the city to evaluate options rather than make a rushed or costly decision later."
Consulting engineer Will Lovins of AECOM and Water Treatment Superintendent Michael Woodside described technical steps: test multiple resins in ion‑exchange vessels on a small scale, measure removal efficiency, and assess media life and replacement costs. Woodside told the commission the city had already taken Wells 3 and 5 offline after lab results detected short‑chain PFAS in those production wells.
Kuenan said the $323,093.40 expense will come from the water and sewer enterprise fund reserves; staff also submitted an application this month to the Indian River Lagoon Council ("1 Lagoon") seeking grant support that could reimburse part of the pilot (staff estimated grants could be up to about $100,000, subject to award). "Any awarded funds would be applied as reimbursement to offset project costs," Kuenan said.
Commissioners asked about timing, alternatives and whether other utilities are pursuing similar pilots; Lovins said short‑chain PFAS is an emerging concern and the pilot will test media and operational changes to extend resin life and lower lifecycle costs. The commission approved the budget amendment on roll call; staff will return with findings and cost alternatives after pilot completion.
Next steps: staff will mobilize equipment and begin pilot operations, run and analyze tests over the planned six‑month period, and report results, alternatives and estimated costs to the commission for future decisions.