In response to concerns about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in two public drinking water systems serving the Payson community, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is collaborating with the Town of Payson on actions and solutions that will ensure community members in the area receive healthy drinking water.
This collaboration is made possible by funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The Water Infrastructure Finance Authority received the state’s portion of the federal Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant and passed the $42 million to ADEQ to provide direct assistance to small or disadvantaged communities in Arizona. This assistance will result in local infrastructure for drinking water systems, such as a treatment facility or connection to a clean drinking water source, to address emerging contaminants. Projects whose primary purpose is to address the challenges of PFAS in drinking water will be the focus of these funds.
“The Town of Payson and Twin Lakes Mobile Home Park are among the first public water systems in the state to benefit from this important funding,” said ADEQ Cabinet Executive Officer Karen Peters. “ADEQ is providing engineering and technical expertise and financial resources to address PFAS found in the Town’s drinking water and then connect a neighboring small public water system to Payson’s water system.”
To assist Payson, ADEQ is contracting with a local engineering firm to develop a compliance options report to identify viable alternatives for mitigating PFAS in the Town’s drinking water system. The report will support the Town’s decision-making processes and help determine the most appropriate and cost-effective solution. Additionally, the contractor will design a service connection for Twin Lakes Mobile Home Park to the Town of Payson’s drinking water system to provide clean drinking water to the mobile home park. Future phases of these projects will include the construction of related infrastructure.
“The Town of Payson and ADEQ have successfully maintained a longstanding cooperative relationship in operating the groundwater remediation system for the Payson PCE Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund site since 1998,” said Town of Payson Water Department Director Tanner Henry. “In concert with this partnership, we are excited that ADEQ has once again stepped up to the plate to help us with our PFAS issues. We are certainly blessed to have this opportunity to expand our groundwater treatment capabilities and continue our delivery of safe drinking water to the community.”
