The Hastings City Council will talk about problems with removing PFAS “forever chemicals” from the city water supply.
The city has received a consultant’s report pegging the cost at remediation of the PFAS chemicals at $62 million.
The source of the PFAS chemicals is believed to be from 3M, located just north of the city in Cottage Grove. Many metro communities shared in a huge 2018 settlement with 3M, but Hastings received no funding.
The city will need to build three new treatment plants when new federal drinking water standards are put in place by the Environmental Protection Agency in months to come.
The toxic PFAS chemicals were used by 3M in manufacturing firefighting foam and other products.
Washington County municipalities shared funding from the 2018 settlement of $850 million with 3M.
3M has also reached a national settlement for $10.5 billion to help clean public water, but that is still awaiting federal court approval.
While Hastings’ drinking water is safe under current standards, when the more stringent EPA rules going into place, five of six city wells will exceed the standards.
The city council workshop starts at 5:30 p.m. and is open to the public.
