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Elko approves preliminary engineering report contract with WSP after PFAS detects in some wells
Summary
After staff reported PFAS detections in several wells, Elko City Council authorized a professional services agreement with WSP to produce a Preliminary Engineering Report to identify appropriate mitigation options and funding pathways.
Elko City staff reported preliminary testing has identified per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a subset of city wells, and the City Council on Feb. 18 authorized a professional services agreement with WSP to prepare a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) to evaluate mitigation options.
Jim (S25) said the city’s preliminary monitoring detected PFAS variants in several wells after EPA monitoring rules tightened; he described the substance as "man made" and said the city is in the early stages of defining mitigation, which could include blending, granular activated carbon or reverse osmosis depending on concentrations and cost. Jim noted that prior monitoring under Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring (UCMR) produced different results and that the EPA’s lowering of screening levels has led to detected exceedances in some wells.
Consultants from WSP (S28 and colleagues) described remediation technologies: reverse osmosis and ion exchange can remove PFAS but create concentrate disposal issues; granular activated carbon has been used widely; and blending lower‑PFAS sources with affected wells can, in small systems, be a cost‑effective compliance approach. WSP representatives recommended the PER as the next step to analyze sample results, identify feasible treatment trains and prepare the city for state or federal funding opportunities.
Council approved staff’s request to enter the professional services agreement, with staff noting the city had budgeted funds for the PER and that available state or EPA funds could offset some costs later.
What’s next: WSP will undertake the PER, map affected sources, evaluate technical options and cost estimates, and coordinate with state funding mechanisms as they become available.
