PHOENIX (Jan. 17, 2024) — In response to concerns about PFAS found in three public drinking water systems serving the Globe community, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is collaborating with the City of Globe on actions and solutions that will ensure community members in the area receive healthy drinking water. This collaboration was made possible by $5 million allocated by Governor Katie Hobbs and the Arizona Legislature to ADEQ in 2023 to identify, contain and treat Arizona water sources for PFAS chemicals. 

“The City of Globe, HAV Properties and August Hills Mobile Home Park are the first three public water systems in the state to benefit from this important perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) funding from Governor Hobbs,” said ADEQ Cabinet Executive Officer Karen Peters. “ADEQ is providing engineering and technical expertise and financial resources to address PFAS found in the City of Globe drinking water and then connect two neighboring small public water systems to the City’s PFAS-free water source.” 

“This partnership and investment demonstrate a commitment to the health and well-being of our community,” said City of Globe Mayor Al Gameros. “We look forward to working in close partnership with ADEQ to safeguard our water resources and ensure a continued safe water supply into the future.”

In anticipation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalizing its National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for certain PFAS compounds, which will apply to approximately 950 Arizona systems, both ADEQ and public water systems have been conducting PFAS testing to identify the extent of PFAS in Arizona drinking water. While data for large systems is still being collected under EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) testing program, estimates from ADEQ’s ongoing sampling, which is 90 percent complete, indicate that 70 or more small water systems (serving 3,300 or less customers) could require PFAS mitigation when EPA’s regulation goes into effect. 

To provide support to small water systems and disadvantaged communities that will need assistance to address PFAS, ADEQ developed and is implementing a statewide drinking water PFAS mitigation plan. ADEQ’s plan leverages both the $5 million in state funding and an additional $42 million in federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding and includes:

• Testing for public drinking water systems – Confirming PFAS contamination and testing for other contaminants that can interfere with PFAS treatment.
• Hydrogeologic evaluations – Assessing several PFAS-impacted areas of the state where the hydrogeology is less-studied. These evaluations will help drinking water providers make decisions such as removing wells from service, relocating wells, blending water, and connecting with another system.
• Treatment and infrastructure improvements – Providing funding for design and construction of PFAS mitigation strategies, such as connection to a clean water source, deepening existing wells or drilling new wells, or PFAS treatment. 
• PFAS education for drinking water professionals – Hosting a forum to discuss industry perspectives on PFAS solutions, developing technical guidance documents for engineers designing PFAS treatment systems and conducting ongoing training webinars.
  
  

Background and Resources

PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals with fire-retardant properties that have been used commercially in the United States to make products like stain and water resistant carpet and textiles, food packaging, firefighting foam, as well as in other industrial processes. Some PFAS can accumulate in people, animals, and the environment over time. While consumer products and food are the largest source of exposure to these chemicals for most people, drinking water can be an additional source of exposure in communities where these chemicals are in water supplies. A lifetime of exposure to certain PFAS levels in drinking water is associated with negative health effects.

To learn more about ADEQ’s proactive approach to PFAS and view Arizona drinking water data for PFAS | Learn More > 

Contact

ADEQ Public Information Officer
Ph: 602-540-8072 (cell) 
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