IT WAS ONE YEAR AGO, IN AUGUST OF 2022, THAT THE TOWN OF PRESCOTT VALLEY SHUT DOWN FOUR OF ITS 27 WATER WELLS BECAUSE OF POSITIVE TESTS FOR PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES, OR PFAS.

THE TOWN NOW HAS TAKEN AN ADDITIONAL WELL OUT OF SERVICE AFTER IT TESTED POSITIVE FOR PFAS.

THE TOWN RECENTLY RETESTED ITS OPERATIONAL WELLS AND FOUND THAT AN ADDITIONAL WELL IN THE QUAILWOOD AREA TESTED ABOVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY’S DRAFT MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL FOR PFAS.

QUAILWOOD WELLS #2 AND #3 IN EAST PRESCOTT VALLEY WERE TWO OF THE ORIGINAL WELLS TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE. QUAILWOOD WELL #4 IS THE MOST RECENT TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE, AND AN ADDITIONAL WELL IS NON-OPERATIONAL DUE TO SERVICING.

THE REMAINING THREE WELLS IN THE AREA ARE SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF WATER CUSTOMERS. THE TOWN’S WELLS ARE INTERCONNECTED SO WATER CAN BE MOVED BETWEEN AREAS TO SERVE THE AFFECTED COMMUNITY DURING REPAIRS OR SHUTDOWNS.

THE EPA HAS ADVISED THAT EXPOSURE TO HIGH LEVELS OF PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS) MAY BE HARMFUL TO HUMAN HEALTH. IN MARCH 2023, THE EPA PUBLISHED THE DRAFT MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVEL, WHICH WILL BE IN EFFECT UNTIL A PERMANENT ACCEPTABLE LEVEL IS ESTABLISHED THIS FALL.

OTHER COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT ARIZONA AND THE NATION ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING POSITIVE TESTS FOR PFAS.

PRESCOTT VALLEY WATER IS TESTED ANNUALLY AND MEETS ALL SAFE DRINKING WATER STANDARDS REQUIRED BY THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. VIEW THE ENTIRE WATER QUALITY REPORT ONLINE AT PV-AZGOV.INFO/3C9HDRD.