Testing shows one Kalispell well above federal limits on forever chemicals

Four wells in Kalispell tested positive last month for what are known as forever chemicals, though only one shows levels above limits newly set by the Biden administration, city officials say.

Testing conducted March 24 showed that the Old School Well No. 1 contained perfluorooctane sulfonic acid at levels of 2 parts per trillion; the Armory Well and Grandview Well No. 1 at 3.5 parts per trillion; and the Grandview Well No. 2 at 13 parts per trillion. The latter well is far above the 4 parts per trillion limit established by the Environmental Protection Agency while the other three fall below the cap. 

Grandview Well No. 2 also came in above the limit set for perfluorohexane sulfonate at 11 parts per trillion. The EPA has established a 10 parts per trillion cap for that synthetic chemical compound. The other three wells tested fell below that mark, with the Old School Well No. 1 showing no signs of contamination. 

“I mean obviously zero [for] any well is the desired goal, but as it comes to the EPA regulation, we’re looking at one well right now,” City Manager Doug Russell told Kalispell City Council at its April 15 meeting. 

The chemical contaminants, commonly known as forever chemicals or PFAS, are widely used in everyday products and are long lasting. Forever chemicals have been found in water, air, fish and soil across the globe — as well as in animal and human blood, according to the EPA. Studies have linked forever chemicals to decreased fertility, developmental effects or delays in children, high blood pressure in pregnant women, increased risk of some cancers and increased cholesterol levels, among other health risks. 

The latest round of testing for PFAS in Kalispell came in the wake of a Daily Montanan report in February revealing city officials had known about the contamination in municipal wells since September. 

The results came as federal officials rolled out strict limits on PFAS in drinking water. The rules are aimed at forcing water providers to limit contaminants to the lowest level detectable, according to the Associated Press. Although the EPA estimates the change will cost about $1.5 billion a year to implement, it will prevent deaths and reduce illnesses. 

"It's that accumulation that's the problem," Scott Belcher, a North Carolina State University professor who researches PFAS toxicity, told the Associated Press earlier this month. "Even tiny, tiny, tiny amounts each time you take a drink of water over your lifetime is going to keep adding up, leading to the health effects."

Back in Kalispell, Russell sought City Council approval to host a work session to discuss the contamination on June 10. He said an initial review of the federal regulation indicates the municipality would have up to five years to address the contamination. 

“We have applications in with [the Montana Department of Environmental Quality] for $11 million in remediation funds, but at that work session we want to discuss what that remediation could be, what some of those approaches could be related to, compliance related to it and really discuss different systems and components,” he said. 

Kalispell is one of only two communities in Montana to detect forever chemicals in the water, Russell said. The other is Hamilton. 

Pressed by councilors about how the regulations worked, Director of Public Works Susie Turner said she would provide further clarity in the future.

“I think maybe the best answer is give me a little time to understand the rule,” she told Council. 

Councilor Jed Fisher reported coming across businesses advertising services related to the forever chemicals found in Kalispell’s water. He questioned Russell on what residents could do in the meantime to protect themselves. 

“We’re not going to tell individual people what they should and shouldn’t do,” Russell replied. “If they want to install a filtration system, that’s entirely up to them. … We just encourage people to do their research.”

A city press release detailing the latest test results encourages residents concerned about forever chemicals in the water to consult with their doctor or health care professional and review the EPA’s guide on reducing risks. It also notes that another round of testing will occur in the summer.