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Tequesta council approves Kimley Horn contract to study PFAS solutions for drinking water
Summary
The council authorized a water‑treatment master plan contract and heard a technical briefing showing PFAS detections in surficial wells; staff said options include carbon/ion‑exchange treatment, shifting capacity to deeper Floridan wells, and long‑term disposal strategies, all requiring funding and phased implementation.
The Village of Tequesta on Nov. 13 authorized a work order with Kimley Horn to develop a water‑treatment master plan aimed at keeping the system in compliance with emerging PFAS rules and to identify cost‑effective treatment pathways.
Utilities deputy director Allison Felsburg told the council that raw‑water testing shows PFAS concentrations in the village's shallower surficial wells that could push finished water concentrations above future regulatory limits depending on blending ratios. She said the village is evaluating whether to treat the surficial supply, reduce its use and rely more on the deeper Floridan aquifer, or implement a combination of approaches backed by long‑range funding.
Nick Black, an engineer with consultant Kimley Horn, described the technical tradeoffs. ‘‘At certain blend percentages the finished water would exceed the expected PFOS maximum contaminant level,’’ Black said, adding that treatment options include granular activated carbon (GAC), selective ion exchange resins, nanofiltration, or moving greater capacity to the Floridan wells and stabilizing finished water chemistry.
Black and Felsburg warned that each option carries cost and operational consequences: GAC and ion‑exchange generate media or resin that must be disposed of (typically incineration) and membrane/nanofiltration options concentrate contaminants into a brine that would require approved disposal (deep injection wells), both of which have capital and recurring costs. The consultants recommended a phased plan that looks at raw‑water capacities, future demand projections, regulatory uncertainty, and potential settlement funds from PFAS litigation.
Council approved the contract not to exceed $121,915 to produce the master plan, which staff said will include a cost analysis, recommended sequence of projects, and possible funding pathways. Felsburg said the village is also working with attorneys handling PFAS settlements (3M/DuPont and others) to pursue reimbursements for eligible costs.
Next steps include a detailed alternatives analysis, an implementation schedule, and pursuing funding options. Staff said members will return to council with the consultant's findings and recommended actions before any construction is authorized.
