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Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Stillwater to treat water for PFAS with $2.5M temporary facility
Construction will begin this summer on a temporary solution to PFAS chemicals found in parts of Stillwater's water supply. Market and Johnson Inc., of Eau Claire, Wis., submitted the lowest bid to construct a temporary facility to treat water from one of Stillwater's wells to meet the latest standards for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as 'forever chemicals' because they resist breaking down in the environment. Five bids were received and opened, city officials said. Market and Johnson, which has a local office in Stillwater, submitted a bid of $2,517,000, which beat the engineer's estimate of $2,678,000, city officials said. The Stillwater City Council voted June 3 to accept the bid. The facility, which will be located adjacent to Well No. 10 near Benson Park, is expected to be in operation until a permanent solution is found. The facility will use granulated activated carbon to treat the water. The city secured a $3 million grant from the Public Facilities Authority for construction of the temporary water treatment facility, said City Administrator Joe Kohlmann. Construction will begin this summer, and the facility should be operational by late 2025 or early 2026, he said. PFAS chemicals were found to have contaminated drinking water supplies in parts of the eastern Twin Cities, including in Stillwater's groundwater supply. 3M and other companies manufactured the substances for use in products ranging from nonstick cookware to firefighting foam, but now they have made their way into water and food supplies across the country and have been linked to cancers and other health issues. The Trump administration recently announced plans to relax limits on certain 'forever chemicals.' But for two commonly found types, PFOA and PFOS, the limits put in place by the Biden administration will remain in place. Utilities will have two more years — until 2031 — to meet them. Two wells in Stillwater – Well No. 6 and Well No. 10 – were found to contain PFAS at levels above health-based guidance values for drinking water. An additional well, Well No. 9, contains PFAS at levels just below these standards. All three wells are currently inactive and are not providing water for the community, Kohlmann said. The temporary treatment facility at Well No. 10 will ensure the well can safely be put back into service to meet drinking-water standards, he said. Driver, 23, dies in single-vehicle crash in Scandia Emaciated stowaway cat found in Minnesota after epic journey from China Stillwater: Lift Bridge rescue call was false alarm, authorities say East Metro Softball Player of the Year: Forest Lake's Avery Muellner Retiring Woodbury city administrator says over 21 years, he's watched the city grow
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Stillwater: PFAS water treatment open house set for March 17
Crews in Stillwater will begin construction later this year on a temporary facility to treat water from city wells to meet PFAS standards. The facility, which will be located adjacent to Well No. 10 near Benson Park, is expected to be in operation until a permanent water treatment plant is built. The facility will use granular-activated carbon to treat water. The city secured a $3 million grant from the Public Facilities Authority for construction of the temporary water treatment facility, said City Administrator Joe Kohlmann. Construction will begin as soon as possible with an anticipated 2026 operational date, he said. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were found to have contaminated drinking water supplies in parts of the eastern Twin Cities, including in Stillwater's groundwater supply. Two wells in the city – Well No. 6 and Well No. 10 – were found to contain PFAS at levels above health-based guidance values for drinking water. An additional well, Well No. 9, contains PFAS at levels just below these standards. All three wells are currently inactive and are not providing water for the community, Kohlmann said. A temporary treatment facility at Well No. 10 will ensure the well 'can safely be put back into service to meet drinking-water standards,' he said. PFAS contamination was first measured in the east metro in the early 2000s. Maplewood-based 3M Co. began making PFAS at a facility in Cottage Grove in the 1940s and historically disposed of PFAS wastes in four east-metro locations, the source of identified PFAS impacts in Washington County groundwater. An open house on the project will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 17 at Stillwater City Hall. For more information, go to Environment | Stillwater school district restricts access to LGBTQ+ children's books Environment | 'You were willing to risk your life to maintain our freedom.' Cottage Grove World War II veteran honored for service Environment | Louise Hinz appointed to South Washington County School board Environment | Woodbury man sentenced for string of Washington County bank robberies Environment | State hockey: Stillwater is back in the tournament, led by a deep, talented crop of seniors
