Milwaukie engineer: Stanley Well PFAS levels rose toward federal limit; city sizes treatment plant and seeks funding

City Engineer Jennifer Garberly reported that recent sampling found Stanley Well (Well 6, at the Stanley reservoir) at about 3.86 parts per trillion for PFAS, a notable increase from earlier measures she said were near 1–2 ppt. Garberly told the council the test result is below the federal reference level of 4 ppt but close enough that the city is adding Stanley to its pipeline and treatment sizing work so all wells can be treated.

The finding has accelerated staff planning. Garberly said the city has received 30% design for a raw‑water pipeline that would connect Wells 7 and 4, run up 37th/Monroe and tie into the water‑treatment site. "We are sizing the treatment plant for our full water rights so everything can be treated," Garberly said. She added the team will present a site layout in the fall and expects to advance land‑use and planning work that will include a planning‑commission review for the treatment facility.

Garberly told council that federal rules effectively require a treatment system to have been operating for one year by April 10, 2029, to meet compliance expectations. Staff said they will pursue PFAS funding once the PFAS study and memo are finalized and will request council direction on next steps. She also said Oregon regulators will meet in mid‑July to discuss how the state plans to implement the federal requirements and whether Oregon will offer extensions; staff said they may seek a two‑year extension if regulators allow it but emphasized that an extension would not change the city’s internal schedule for building needed facilities.

On funding, Garberly said the city has a financing plan in development but that PFAS grant programs typically pay only for treatment of PFAS itself and may not cover all associated building or electrical costs. "PFAS will only pay for what treats PFAS," she said, and added that the city is preparing to ask for additional funding tranches to complete the work.

Council members pressed staff on what triggers shutdowns and thresholds for public notice if wells exceed federal levels; Garberly said the measure had not exceeded 4 ppt and that staff will retest, continue monitoring and bring a PFAS memo and funding request to council on Aug. 18. The engineer described the next steps as completing the study, pursuing PFAS funding, advancing design, and coordinating land‑use review. No formal action or vote occurred at the work session.

What's next: staff will finalize the PFAS memo and present findings and funding options to council on Aug. 18; regulatory discussions in mid‑July could alter extension options but not the city's internal build schedule.