WOOD RIVER — Wood River residents will receive a notice within the next few days after recent testing detected PFAS, in the city’s drinking water at 6.7 parts per trillion, above the Illinois standard of 4 parts per trillion, City Manager Steve Palen said in a message to residents.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic "forever chemicals" used since the 1940s to make products resist water, grease, and heat.
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The notification is required because the result exceeds the applicable standard, Palen said. He said the city is taking the matter seriously and working toward a long-term solution.
“While this result is above the applicable standard and therefore requires notification, it is important to put the number into perspective,” Palen said. “We are talking about 6.7 parts per trillion, an extremely small concentration.”
Palen said the result does not mean residents are experiencing “an immediate health emergency,” but that regulatory standards establish levels at which communities must take action and evaluate ways to reduce exposure.
The city has been conducting a PFAS treatment pilot study to determine what treatment technology would work best for Wood River’s water system, Palen said. He said the goal is to select a system that is “effective, reliable, and appropriate for Wood River for years to come.”
Wood River is also participating in litigation involving PFAS manufacturers and other responsible parties, Palen said. Through that process, the city has received funding to help support future treatment and other costs associated with addressing PFAS in the water system.
“We have identified the issue, we are monitoring it, we are studying treatment options, and we have resources available to help us address it,” Palen said.
Palen said the city will continue working with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, water professionals, and legal and engineering partners to understand the results, comply with requirements, and develop a long-term treatment solution.
“We will not minimize this issue, but neither should anyone panic because of this notification,” Palen said. “We are addressing it responsibly, methodically, and with the long-term interests of our community in mind.”
