IN: PFAS contaminants found in treated drinking water at five large utilities

Five large drinking water utilities in Indiana have toxic PFAS levels in their treated water that are above federal health guidelines. That includes utilities serving the cities of Logansport, Columbus, Elkhart, and Sellersburg as well as Watson Rural Water Company.

It was reported in the article below that several midsize water utilities struggled to meet the previous target levels for contaminants before the new EPA Standard was implemented.

State retests midsize Indiana drinking water utilities for PFAS, 10 have unhealthy levels

So far, the state has found 19 water utilities with unhealthy levels of PFAS in the treated drinking water.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has identified 19 drinking water utilities with PFAS levels above federal health guidelines.

PFAS are a group of human-made chemicals found in non-stick and stain-resistant products — from pans to carpets to fast-food wrappers. Among other things, exposure to them has been linked to kidney cancer, problems with the immune system, and developmental issues in children.

IDEM recently retested midsize water utilities in light of new, stricter federal health guidelines for PFAS.

Ten midsize utilities had levels above those guidelines — including Indiana American Water in Charlestown and Georgetown, Rural Membership Water Corporation of Clark County, Floyds Knobs Water Company, Gibson Water, Palmyra Water Works, Whiteland Water Works, Mount Vernon Water Works, West Terre Haute Water, and Tennyson Water Utility. Nine smaller drinking water utilities did as well.

What does EWG's interactive PFAS map say?

Looking at EWG's map, which is the best source of income, even if water plants may not report, there seem to be seven public utilities that are over the standard plus the military bases, which is a step forward.

Indiana doesn't have a PFAS roadmap - instead follows the EPA's Roadmap

• National EPA Roadmap: This outlines a multi-year strategy for regulating PFAS chemicals, including setting health advisories, proposing enforceable limits, and increasing research efforts.
• Indiana's Actions: The state is following the EPA's roadmap by conducting PFAS testing in public water systems and studying its presence in surface water bodies. [IN.gov]

Conclusion

Indiana still has a lot of treatment development to do before all water plants handle the PFAS to match the new standard.

With the circular process of The Oaktree taking care of the biosolids, breaking down the PFAS, and producing activated carbon, which can be used as a water filter for drinking water, Once the filter has been used, the carbon can return to The Oaktree for additional treatment before being used as a certified soil amendment.

The Oaktree doesn't require any investment from the local wastewater plant, nor will it change the operational cost, this is because The Oaktree generates highly valuable products that carry the cost of investment as well as treatment.

If this sounds interesting, please reach out to The Oaktree team.