St. Cloud Involved With Pilot Program For Treating PFAS in Wastewater

(KNSI) – The City of St. Cloud says it continues to be proactive in addressing forever chemicals.

Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances refer to thousands of different chemicals that are hard to break down. They have been in use since the 1940’s and the very feature that makes them tough to clean up is a benefit for several industries. That includes public safety and heavy manufacturing.

Firefighting foam, food packaging, and grease-resistant coatings are some of the most prevalent forms of PFAS. Officials say recent studies have shed light on how damaging exposure is to several of these chemicals.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency is proposing regulations for six PFAS that are much tougher than previous guidance put out by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. As regulations become stricter, they become harder to meet.

St. Cloud says it tracks contaminant levels in both drinking water and wastewater. It already has a carbon filtration system, which is the most effective treatment to protect your tap.

PFAS levels in wastewater are registering between the low and medium thresholds. The city says the best way to bring those numbers down is for wastewater sources, such as industrial manufacturers, to make changes on their end. Beginning in 2025, St. Cloud is taking part in a pilot program to treat biosolids with new technology called super critical water oxidation.

St. Cloud says stormwater contamination is not monitored. Runoff is sent into local waterways with little to no treatment.

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