Board accepts $546,000 TWDB funding to study PFAS in wastewater

The Weatherford Municipal Utility Board adopted Resolution R2025‑07 to accept a Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) award of up to $546,000 under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Emerging Contaminants program to fund PFAS testing and monitoring.

Rick Schafer described the proposal as a study to test raw wastewater entering the treatment plant, treated effluent, biosolids and samples across the collection system. Schafer said the award is "100% principal forgiveness," meaning the funding is a grant rather than a repayable loan, and that roughly half of the $546,000 will cover testing costs. "About 50% of that is the testing cost," he said.

Schafer told the board that TWDB will not permit the city to target testing at specific customers as part of this award; staff plans to include targeted testing in the FY‑26 budget using other local funds to inform future pretreatment or ordinance work. The study will also evaluate alternatives for future PFAS removal at the treatment plant and possible pretreatment requirements for industrial customers.

Board members asked about liability and the public availability of generated data. One member expressed concern that creating data could invite legal claims; Schafer responded that the effort is intended to "get ahead of what regulations are coming" and to provide staff the information needed to consider future regulatory or ordinance actions.

Heidi Waller moved to adopt the resolution; Lindsey Hester seconded and the board approved the resolution. Staff said they aim to schedule a closing with TWDB in July but the closing may slip to September due to recent timeline changes by TWDB. The consultant request‑for‑qualifications responses are due July 8, and staff expects to return a consultant contract for board approval in August or September.