Commissioner reports GZA briefing on PFAS permeable‑reactive wall; public meeting scheduled

A county commissioner reported to the board on July 23 that he and staff met with GZA consultants to review detailed field work and a pilot for a permeable‑reactive wall intended to capture PFAS in groundwater. "The permeable reactive wall that our consultants are working on...has been pilot tested and has been approved for full scale implementation by DEP," the commissioner said, describing the technology as a liquid‑injection form that can be installed from the clay layer to the groundwater surface. He said the liquid reactive material is injected in a continuous wall so that groundwater must pass through the reactive zone; GZA characterized the system as a carbon‑based reactive treatment and outlined installation and monitoring methods. The commissioner said the team reviewed groundwater flow analysis, monitoring plans and where a pilot wall would be located. The commissioner said GZA’s approach is a frequently used remediation technique and that the firm expects monitoring and verification to demonstrate effectiveness; he told the board that a public meeting on the project is scheduled for the 29th. He described strong public concern and noted many residents have detectable PFAS in blood tests. The technical briefing followed financial reporting earlier in the meeting that listed PFAS remediation among the county’s long‑term liabilities. The commissioner said local officials and residents had given positive feedback on the county’s multi‑partner technical approach and that staff would continue public outreach ahead of the next public meeting. No formal regulatory decision or new appropriation was made at the meeting; the commissioner said work will continue with GZA and that monitoring and public updates are planned.