July 24, 2024
City of Portageville, Missouri PFAS Removal
Horner & Shifrin assisted the City of Portageville for a PFAS Remediation Study for their Public Water System
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have garnered increasing attention in recent years due to their widespread presence in the environment and potential health risks. These human-made chemicals have been used in various industrial and consumer products for decades, leading to their abundant distribution in soil, water, and even in the bodies of humans and animals. PFAS poses significant dangers to both the environment and human health due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and potential toxicity. One of the most concerning routes of PFAS exposure for humans is through contaminated drinking water. PFAS can leach into groundwater from sources such as industrial facilities, and landfills. Contaminated groundwater can then contaminate drinking water supplies, posing a risk to public health.
Once absorbed, PFAS can persist in the human body for years, accumulating in tissues such as the liver, kidneys, and blood. The health effects associated with PFAS exposure are a major concern. Studies have linked PFAS exposure to various adverse health outcomes, including cancer, liver damage, reproductive issues, and effects to one’s immune system. Furthermore, the pervasiveness of PFAS contamination in the environment poses challenges for remediation efforts.
The City of Portageville, Missouri retained the services of Horner & Shifrin to complete a PFAS Remediation Study for the Portageville Public Water System. A Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) was written in January 2022, which proposed improvements to Portageville’s water supply, storage, distribution, and treatment systems. It included the construction of a new iron and manganese removal water treatment plant. In February 2023, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources notified the City of Portageville of a Health Advisory Exceedance showing detection of one or more PFAS above the Health Advisory Levels established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Missouri DNR’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) has made grant funds available to address emerging contaminants, which includes PFAS and manganese. In August 2023, the Missouri Drinking Water SRF Intended Use Plan was published, and Portageville received $6,521,400 in grant funding to address emerging contaminants. The total project cost is $11,110,600, and the balance was funded at 50% grant 50% loan for a total of $8,816,000 in grant funding and $2,294,600 as a low interest SRF loan.
This PFAS Remediation Study was included in the overall project budget, which is necessary to specify additional processes in the water treatment plant. The scope of work included reviewing Missouri DNR PFAS test reports, researching available technology and processes for PFAS remediation, and developing a strategy to incorporate PFAS remediation into the water treatment plant proposed in the January 2022 PER. Based on the results of the study, ion exchange contactors were recommended as the most cost-effective solution for the concentration levels of the specific PFAS compounds (PFOS & PFHxS) detected in Portageville’s water supply. Preliminary drawings of the updated water treatment plant and site layout were developed, and the construction cost estimate was revised. The completed study was approved by Missouri DNR and presented to the City of Portageville in January 2024.
Daniel Kingree, who served as Horner & Shifrin’s Project Manager for the PFAS study, understands the importance of this type of project – both as an engineer and as a homegrown local. “Having grown up on a Southeast Missouri family farm, it has been rewarding to join the Horner & Shifrin team to help revitalize the infrastructure in communities near my home. I understand the work ethic and dedication people have to their rural hometowns, and it is exciting to team with the City of Portageville to ensure their water system will support their needs well into the future. We are on the leading edge of PFAS removal technology to ensure safe and healthy water for both the residents and local industries that are so important to the livelihood of the Missouri bootheel.”
The completion of the PFAS Remediation Study marks a significant step forward in safeguarding the health and well-being of the residents of Portageville, Missouri, while also addressing the pressing environmental concerns posed by these persistent contaminants. This study represents a crucial milestone in the ongoing efforts to mitigate the environmental and public health risks of PFAS.
It is exciting to team with the City of Portageville to ensure their water system will support their needs well into the future. – Project Manager, Daniel Kingree