Pima County Government: Supervisors Request Tucson Lower PFAS Levels In Water Discharged Into Santa Cruz

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August 12, 2021

At its August 10th meeting, the Pima County’s Board of Directors unanimously approved a recommendation that Tucson Water treat new water discharges into the Santa Cruz River for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
PFAS is a class of more than 3,000 man-made chemicals commonly used in common household products, including nonstick pans, anti-stain coatings on textiles, and the coating of food packaging.
Tucson Water recently announced plans to dump treated water from the Tucson Airport Remediation Project (TARP) into the Santa Cruz River near Irvington Road after it found higher PFAS levels in groundwater than previously thought.
In June the city closed the TARP plant, which was built to treat contaminated groundwater from the airport grounds. Because of the health risks posed by PFAS chemicals, regulators strongly recommend lowering levels as much as possible before adding water to the river. Tucson Water plans to approve water that has been treated to operating levels less than 18 parts per trillion for PFAS.
County officials and officials want guarantees that TARP water is treated to remove as much PFAS compounds as possible to prevent the chemical from spreading further. PFAS could continue to be paid out across the region if the water released into the Santa Cruz River settles in the groundwater system.
“PFAS compounds persist in the environment and the risks of human exposure are not fully understood. For this reason, it is critical that we do everything we can to minimize the likelihood that these compounds will end up in the drinking water supply, ”said Dr. Francisco Garcia, Deputy District Administrator and Chief Medical Officer. “There are some studies that have linked PFAS exposure to a potentially increased risk of certain cancers, impaired kidney, liver and thyroid function, immune system disorders and even developmental problems.”
The city received $ 2 million from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to build a pipeline to bring 3.5 million gallons of water per day into the Santa Cruz River near Irvington Road. Construction on the project has begun and the discharge of treated water in Santa Cruz is expected to begin in early October.

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