PFAS in Loveland’s Drinking Water: Where Things Stand and What Comes Next

Jim Daumeyer

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Here is an update on where the city is with getting the PFAS out of our water. In case you are unaware of what PFAS is and our risk to it, here is a quick overview. PFAS is a manufactured chemical (including PFOS and others too numerous to name here) often referred to as a “forever chemical” because it persists in the environment. In people, some PFAS can remain in the body for many years and build up over time through repeated exposure, either orally or through skin contact.

There is still a lot of science being researched on the unknowns of these chemicals and their harm to humans, but the EPA has determined PFAS to be harmful enough to set enforceable safety limits of no more than 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFAS and 4 ppt for PFOS in municipal drinking water. Some of the risks linked to PFAS exposure include developmental delays, reproductive problems, and kidney and testicular cancer.

Loveland’s water has recently been reported to test, on average, approximately four times higher than the EPA’s PFAS standard, with finished-water PFAS levels reported around 17 ppt.

Actual levels vary by well and by sampling date. The City of Loveland is looking at building a new water processing facility or making major treatment upgrades at an estimated cost of approximately $17–18 million. The city is currently evaluating the best filtration system for our needs and the best site to build the facility. There has been no firm timeframe announced for when this will be built or where the full funding to pay for it will come from.

The city was part of a class action lawsuit that has resulted in approximately $850,000 received to date, with additional settlement funds expected in the future. These monies will be allocated toward part of the cost of a PFAS solution.

What is lacking in the plan is what to do now. On the city’s website under the PFAS tab, there is advice on purchasing home filtration systems recommended by the EPA. The city has known about elevated PFAS levels since at least 2020.

One solution that some citizens have asked about is temporarily sourcing water from Cincinnati Water Works. City Council has stated that this option is too expensive, with estimates of approximately $1.3 million to retrofit incompatibilities between Cincinnati’s system and Loveland’s waterworks, in addition to ongoing costs.

The city has no real short-term solution for our drinking water until the new facility is brought online, and there has not been a tangible timeline provided for how long it may take before residents can expect consistently safe water.

-Jim Daumeyer

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