New PFAS Water Testing Coming to Robbinsdale

Nearly half of the tap water available in the United States is estimated to contain PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.”

With a federal deadline to reduce PFAS concentrations in drinking water approaching in 2029, authorities in Robbinsdale are taking a closer look at the city’s wells.

According to Richard McCoy, public works director for Robbinsdale, there are “very small” concentrations of PFAS in the city’s water — but those still exceed the incoming federal standards.

“The current level, acceptable level of PFAS compounds in drinking water is four parts per trillion,” McCoy recently told the city council. “So that’s barely detectable.”

As a result, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is headed to Robbinsdale to try to find the source of the PFAS in the city’s water.

“I’ve been absolutely flabbergasted — flabbergasted is maybe not the word, but confused about why the readings in our Well Five, which is down in the Fourth Ward, are what they are,” McCoy said. “There’s no apparent reason upstream why we should have any PFAS.”

Testing will take place at several sites.

Surface water will be tested at Grimes Pond and one of the ponds in Lakeview Terrace Park.

Meanwhile, groundwater will be tested at Triangle Park, Lakeview Terrace Park and South Halifax Park.

According to McCoy, determining a source can help when picking out a treatment mechanism.

See also: Robbinsdale Water Treatment Plant Wins Environmental Project of the Year

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