Water department details PFAS planning, meter replacements and firm-capacity gains

Sean Andres and water department leaders presented a 2025 request of about $3.6 million in operating and $9.1 million in capital for the water utility and detailed recent investments, regulatory work and upcoming projects.

Andres said the utility raised firm production capacity from 9.2 million gallons per day in December 2024 to 11.6 million gallons per day — a 26% increase — through replacement and redevelopment of underperforming wells and improvements to treatment and booster pumping. The department reported replacing 6,000 linear feet of water main last year and completing phase 1 of a meter-replacement program, with phase 2 planned.

Officials briefed the council on lead and galvanized service-line replacement work being done to comply with the state’s revised lead-and-copper rule, and on PFAS treatment planning. Andres said two PFAS treatment plants are commissioned and a third 1.7 MGD plant is in design with construction expected to start in 2026; the department said current PFAS levels meet existing safe-drinking-water standards but noted the state’s PFAS maximum contaminant-level timetable (the transcript referenced compliance by 2029).

The department said it operates 10 steel storage tanks (about 10.5 million gallons total) and maintains roughly 280 miles of water main, 2,000 hydrants and 4,000 gate valves. Staff told council members they are pursuing a public-private partnership to spread tank maintenance costs and avoid new debt, and that meter accuracy reduces unaccounted-for water and supports revenue collection.

No vote occurred during the presentation; staff said they will coordinate closely with the CFO and pursue grant opportunities where possible.