Sampling shows treatment of forever chemicals at Grandview Wells site working

Testing done at Kalispell’s Grandview Wells site shows that the newly installed treatment systems are effectively filtering forever chemicals.  

The three systems that are serving the two wells were rented from Illinois-based water quality treatment service WaterSurplus and can treat up to 1,800 gallons a minute, according to the Kalispell Public Works Department. They have been operational for about three weeks.  

Through a method called anion exchange, water passes through a positively charged resin and latches onto the negatively charged PFAS compounds. The resin inside the system has to be replaced every two to three years.  

Public Works Director Susie Turner did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

The wells’ supply becomes critical during summer months when demand for water is higher, according to the Public Works Department’s website. The Grandview site sits next to Flathead Valley Community College. 

Sampling conducted on Oct. 1 detected PFAS in the untreated water, but there were no detections after it underwent treatment. The samples tested for PFOS and PFHxS, two subsets of the family of forever chemicals known as PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.  

PFOS was detected between 8.4 and 8.6 parts per trillion, more than twice the four parts per trillion limit established by the Environmental Protection Agency.  

PFHxS was detected below the 10 parts per trillion established limit. 

Forever chemicals were first detected in Kalispell’s water supply during sample testing conducted in March and June of 2022. 

Sampling done in July 2024 found both wells at the Grandview site and the Armory Well to contain levels of forever chemicals. One of the Grandview wells detected levels at around eight parts per trillion, the same as in October.  

Kalispell is one of two municipalities in Montana to detect the toxic chemicals in its public water supply. The other is Hamilton.  

Forever chemicals came into widespread use in the 1940s before being phased out, but could often be found on non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing and other commercial and industrial use products.  

The chemicals, which are highly soluble, commonly infiltrate public water supplies through spillage from commercial and industrial facilities, according to the EPA. Ingestion has led to adverse effects to reproductive health and child development and resulting in an increased risk to types of cancers.   

Jack Underhill can be reached at junderhill@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4407.