NEWTON COUNTY – At Tuesday’s Newton County Board of Commissioners assembly, the board heard an replace on water ranges and whether or not any per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemical substances have been detected within the water all through 2024.
This replace comes after months of deliberation between District 4 Commissioner J.C. Henderson and County Supervisor Harold Cooper about whether or not PFAS chemical substances have been prevalent in Newton County’s water sources. Henderson had expressed his concern about the potential for PFAS in Newton County water over the course of a number of conferences.
Primarily based on the report supplied by Cooper, no PFAS chemical substances have been detected in 2024.
In keeping with the Environmental Safety Company (EPA), PFAS are widespread, long-lasting chemical substances, generally known as “endlessly chemical substances” that break down very slowly over time. They are often largely present in water, air, fish and soils, however can be discovered within the blood of individuals and animals. Some research have discovered that publicity to PFAS chemical substances may have dangerous results on individuals and animals.
The EPA continues to be working to find out the easiest way to detect, measure and take away PFAS to be able to keep away from antagonistic well being results.
James Brown, Newton County water sources director, spoke to the board Tuesday evening. Brown defined that the county has been testing for PFAS since round 2019 when it was mandated by the federal government that they accomplish that.
“There are 29 constituents of the PSAT molecule,” Brown stated. “We’ve examined for as many because the know-how is offered to check, and as of proper now, all of these detectable ranges have reported again as ‘non-detect.’”
All 2024 PFAS exams from the county got here again with ‘non-detect’ outcomes, a welcome change from just a few years prior when PFAS chemical substances have been detected on the Williams Avenue Water Remedy Facility in 2021.
Henderson reminded the board of the troublesome leads to previous years, and requested Brown how lengthy the PFAS chemical substances may have been within the water from Williams Avenue. Nevertheless, Brown stated there isn’t a clear technique to test as PFAS testing solely goes again 5 – 6 years.
“That half we don’t know as a result of it was necessary from the federal government that we begin testing for this specific compound, after which that is after we began notifying the commissioners, round that point, additionally EPD [Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division] and EPA.”
The Williams Avenue Water Remedy Facility is at the moment within the means of decommissioning, per a report from the county.
Brown up to date the board on this course of, citing a ‘No Vital Affect to the Surroundings’ report dated for Jan. 16 that’s with regard to each the Cornish Creek Water Remedy Facility updates and Williams Avenue decommission. He stated that that is primarily the second-to-last step in decommissioning Williams Avenue’s plant.
The Cornish Creek Plant enlargement can also be nearing completion, however is reportedly taking longer than initially anticipated. The updates will enable the plan to leap from processing 25 million gallons of water every day to 39.5 million gallons, making up for the Williams plant’s decommission.
Two agenda objects associated to the Cornish Creek facility upgrades have been accepted unanimously by the board.
