PFAS Response: $2 Million Drinking Water Protection

What PFAS Are

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of more than 12,000 synthetic chemicals that have been manufactured and used in industrial and consumer products since the 1940s. They are sometimes called "forever chemicals" because they do not break down in the environment or in the human body. PFAS have been used in non-stick cookware, water-resistant fabrics, food packaging, and — critically for municipal water systems — in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), the firefighting foam historically used at airports and military installations.

PFAS exposure at elevated concentrations has been linked to cancer, thyroid disruption, immune system effects, and developmental harm in children. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for six PFAS compounds in drinking water in April 2024 — among the most significant expansions of the Safe Drinking Water Act in decades. Municipalities across the country are now required to test for and, where necessary, treat for PFAS in their drinking water systems.

Purcellville's Proactive Approach

The Fraser administration's PFAS response was proactive rather than reactive. Using ARPA funding — $227,000 for a Pilot Study Grant and $2 million-plus in additional infrastructure funds — Purcellville began characterizing and addressing its PFAS risk before the EPA's federal MCL was finalized. This sequencing matters: municipalities that waited for the 2024 federal mandate are now scrambling to characterize their exposure and fund treatment infrastructure, competing with every other American water system for the same engineering firms, testing laboratories, and treatment equipment. Purcellville had already begun.

The pilot study approach — starting with characterization before committing to infrastructure — is the correct sequence for PFAS response. PFAS treatment is not a uniform solution; the appropriate treatment technology depends on the specific PFAS compounds present, their concentrations, and the source water characteristics. A pilot study that identifies the problem precisely allows infrastructure investment to be targeted rather than speculative.

The Funding Structure

Why This Matters for Small Municipalities

PFAS treatment is expensive. Granular activated carbon (GAC) systems and ion exchange systems capable of reducing PFAS to below the new EPA MCLs can cost several million dollars to install — a significant capital burden for a municipality of 9,000 residents. The ARPA funding that Fraser captured through his NLC network converted this regulatory liability into a manageable capital investment. Without ARPA, Purcellville would have faced the full PFAS treatment cost through rate increases or new debt. With ARPA, the federal government absorbed the majority of the capital cost, and Purcellville's ratepayers were protected from what would have been a substantial utility rate increase.