Hartford Business Journal

10 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | MARCH 18, 2024 Donald Morrissey is the president of Bridgeport-based Aquarion Water Co. PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED The PFAS Curse New regulations that limit 'forever chemicals' will cost water utilities hundreds of millions, while raising concerns for businesses "The reality is, it's going to require some effort, and it's going to require some money to address these issues, both from the standpoint of putting in place the capital infrastruc- ture needed, the treatment systems and whatnot, but also the ongoing maintenance of those new treatment processes," Morrissey said. Aquarion owns more than 86 public water systems across Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and began volun- tary testing for PFAS in 2019. Morrissey said the company has identified about 50 systems across its network that will require PFAS removal. It has proactively installed mitigation systems in some locations, he added. Technology challenges The level of 4 ppt is too small for many laboratories to detect, which creates a technological challenge, said attorney Lee D. Hoffman, chair of law firm Pullman & Comley, where he practices in the areas of environmental and energy law. "Because there isn't a level (of PFAS) that has been deemed safe, that means that the regulations are going to be based on, in some instances, values that our laborato- ries can't even detect yet," Hoffman said. "… And so, it makes it a little bit difficult for the regulated community to prove compliance with them." Aquarion says it has the technology to remove PFAS. The company will install treatment systems that remove the toxic compounds by running water through granulated activated carbon, Morrissey explained. Also, water companies will be required to conduct frequent moni- toring to ensure levels remain below the EPA's limits, and to notify the public when those limits are exceeded. Clinton-based Connecticut Water Co., which serves about 350,000 people in 60 Connecticut towns and cities, said it's preparing to invest roughly $120 million in filtration to remove PFAS. "In preparation, we're currently working with a consultant on an overall strategy for PFAS mitigation, so that figure will be refined as we work through the plan," Connecticut Water President Craig Patla said in a written statement. "We expect to complete the plan soon." When the company began voluntarily testing for PFAS in 2019, Connecticut Water found three water sources with PFAS levels exceeding the state Department of Public Health Action Level. It decided to remove those sources from operation, Patla said. The state's action level limits are less strict than the limits proposed by the EPA. Connecticut Water has identified 40 water sources that are above the EPA's proposed maximum contami- nant level, according to Patla. "We have absolutely begun plan- ning for treatment of those sources and will be ready to move quickly once a regulation is established," Patla said. By Andrew Larson alarson@hartfordbusiness.com C onnecticut's water utilities are bracing for the U.S. Environ- mental Protection Agency's new limits on PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, which are at the center of lawsuits, health problems and, what some say is an environmental crisis. Known as "forever chemicals" due to their durability and resistance to biodegradation, PFAS have been used for more than a half-century in the production of consumer products, such as nonstick cookware and stain-resistant material. When PFAS-containing byprod- ucts leach into the ground, they can contaminate drinking-water sources, including wells and above-ground reservoirs, creating a public health risk so severe that the EPA is setting a new drinking water contaminant limit for the first time in 26 years. A spokesperson for the EPA said in early March that the regulations are undergoing an interagency review. It has been widely reported that the regulations are expected to be final- ized this month. Last year, the EPA released proposed maximum contaminant levels of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for two of the most common types of PFAS. While about 14,000 varieties of PFAS compounds exist, the EPA's proposed standards only address six of them. Even still, the new regulations could be costly to water companies, and have other far-reaching impacts, including further industry consolida- tion, experts said. Connecticut's water companies are planning major infrastructure invest- ments to comply with the anticipated regulatory threshold. Bridgeport-based Aquarion, a subsidiary of Eversource Energy, which serves about 750,000 people in 72 municipalities in Connecticut, estimates that it will cost $250 million to $300 million to comply with the EPA's requirements. However, the cost will depend on whether the federal agency raises or lowers the proposed limits. "That (estimate) may very well change by the time the standards are finally issued, but the numbers that were shared in the proposal — treating to a level of 4 ppt — is really what's driving and increasing that level of investment," said Aquarion President Donald Morrissey in a recent interview with the Hartford Business Journal. He said the company is looking for grants and low-interest loans to help finance the projects, but that increased costs ultimately will be passed on to customers in the form of rate hikes. Not all water utilities face PFAS threat Although PFAS are considered ubiquitous contaminants, not all water companies have detected them in their water supply. The Metropolitan District (MDC), a nonprofit that provides water to Hartford and surrounding towns, said it has not detected any PFAS in its drinking water supply, after testing for 29 different PFAS compounds in 2023. MDC has reservoirs in Farmington and West Hartford that are relatively isolated and contained. "MDC is confident that not only is the water safe to drink, but it remains among the highest quality in the United States," the organi- zation said in a statement. "MDC will continue to keep our customers informed on water quality standards for PFAS as they are developed by our regulators." — Andrew Larson

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