HENDERSON, Ky. — The Henderson Water Utility is taking steps to increase testing and treatment of the city's water in light of new guidelines concerning PFAS, also called "forever chemicals."
General Manager Tom Williams told the city's Board of Commissioners on Tuesday about a new advisory issued June 15 by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. in which it set a limit of four parts per quadrillion for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water.
The public became aware of the presence of PFAS in Henderson last November after a report from Louisville NPR affiliate WFPL that showed the chemicals have been left in the ground and air surrounding facilities owned by Shamrock Technologies. Shamrock recycles Teflon products, with the PFAS molecules a byproduct of the process.
The PFAS issue has gained widespread national attention over the past year; the EPA estimates that 200 million Americans are subject to PFAS exposure through drinking water.
Williams explained that the best tests available are capable of detecting rates as low as two parts per trillion — about 1,000 times higher than the EPA's new limit. However, Williams said, the EPA does not require the water utility to take action on levels below four parts per trillion.
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HWU's highest detected level was two-and-a-half parts per trillion, Williams said. Regardless, the water utility has increased its budget for testing and will now test at least once per month instead of its previous once-per-quarter schedule.
HWU is also working to implement a water-treatment solution that includes the use of powdered-activated carbon for filtering. Activated carbon is the most studied treatment for removing PFAS, with 100% effectiveness in some situations depending on the types of PFAS present, according to the EPA.
The board also heard a presentation from Henderson Municipal Power & Light General Manager Brad Bickett about plans to install an electric vehicle (EV) charging station downtown.
Bickett said there was "no doubt" about the need for an EV charging station in Henderson and presented a plan for a Level 3 Charging Station, the most powerful available. The charger would need just 30 minutes to fully charge a completely drained battery.
Bickett said costs for the charger would be about $75,000, with the city recouping its money within five years, or possibly making a profit depending on how much the charger costs customers. The five-year, break-even estimate is based on a rate of $9.25 per hour.
Bickett said HMP&L would be looking into federal grant money for the charging station.