Update-
Kalispell officials are taking decisive steps to address the presence of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in the city’s drinking water. Equipment is currently being installed to capture these substances—commonly referred to as “forever chemicals”—from the two wells with the highest levels of contamination, known as the Grandview wells. These wells, located just off Highway 93 North on the southern edge of the Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC) campus, have been identified as having trace amounts of PFAS.
In the long term, the City plans to decommission the Grandview wells entirely, ensuring that the local water supply remains safe. This move is part of a broader strategy to mitigate PFAS contamination, a challenge not unique to Kalispell. Nearby Hamilton, Montana, is also grappling with PFAS in its water supply. Meanwhile, tests conducted in the Evergreen Sewer and Water District have fortunately detected no PFAS.
The issue came to public attention in March when the City issued a Consumer Drinking Water Notice, revealing the presence of PFAS in the local water. These substances were traced back to two of Kalispell’s 11 water wells. City officials emphasized that the amount of PFAS detected was minimal, likening it to the equivalent of just seven drops in an Olympic-size swimming pool.
Following the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) establishment of allowable PFAS levels, the City conducted comprehensive testing across all its wells. While four of the wells showed detectable levels of PFAS, all were well within the EPA’s safety standards.
To address the issue, City staff have applied for several grants to eventually replace the Grandview wells. So far, they have secured approximately $10 million in funding for this purpose, marking a significant step forward in protecting Kalispell’s water supply
August 5, 2024-
Kalispell residents are receiving an important update regarding the presence of PFAS—per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—in the city’s drinking water. The situation first came to light in March when the city issued a Consumer Drinking Water Notice. This alert informed residents that certain PFAS chemicals were detected in the city’s water supply, traced to two of the city’s 11 wells.
Since then, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established new allowable levels for PFAS in drinking water. In response, the City of Kalispell has conducted comprehensive testing across all its wells. The results revealed that four wells contain detectable levels of PFAS, though these levels remain well below the recently established EPA standards.
In light of these findings, city staff have outlined three potential mitigation strategies to address the contamination:
- Building New Wells: One option involves constructing new wells to replace the two affected Grandview wells.
- Blending Water: Another approach is to blend water from the Grandview wells with water from the other ten wells, diluting the PFAS concentrations.
- Combination of Both Approaches: A hybrid solution could involve both constructing new wells and blending water from existing wells to achieve the desired reduction in PFAS levels.
To fund these efforts, city staff have applied for a series of grants aimed at replacing the two Grandview wells. So far, their fundraising efforts have been successful, raising approximately $10 million to support these initiatives.
The city remains committed to ensuring the safety of its water supply and will continue to provide updates as they progress with their mitigation plans and grant applications.
