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Avondale weighs $167M PFAS cleanup and steep water-rate increases to meet federal limits
Summary
City staff told the Avondale City Council that most of the city's well production exceeds proposed PFAS limits and outlined a $167 million treatment plan, possible bond financing and two rate-path scenarios that could raise a typical monthly water bill from $42.66 to between $57 and $77 depending on timing.
Avondale officials told the City Council that treating forever-chemicals in the city's drinking water will be expensive and will almost certainly require borrowing and higher utility bills.
"Seventy percent of our city's water production capacity exceeds the PFAS limit," Kirk said, summarizing the feasibility work staff presented. City engineers estimate design will start in July 2026 and construction in January 2029 to meet the EPA's recommended compliance window.
The nut of the matter is money: staff updated the capital estimate for PFAS treatment to about $167,000,000 and said ongoing operating costs would rise by roughly $4,000,000 a year once the systems are online. That price reflects refined design needs and equipment scope since earlier feasibility work.
Council was shown two financing-and-rate scenarios. The first…
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