Arizona Department of Environmental Quality secures $1.7M for purifying groundwater
Specifc efforts to remove PFAS from water, prevent additional contamination
PHOENIX, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) announces Thursday a $1.7 million Environmental Services Agreement (ESA) for the Central Tucson PFAS Project (CTPP).
ADEQ officials confirm the money is was granted through U.S. Air Force funding. They explain that the CTPP is an effort to remove Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from groundwater and protect Tucson's central wellfield from further contamination.
According to CTPP representatives, involved parties will work to contain the PFAS plume in the area north of the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (DMAFB).
“We appreciate the Air Force Civil Engineer Center stepping up and committing U.S. Air Force funding for this important work to prevent additional PFAS impacts to Tucson’s backup drinking water supply in the area north of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, concurrent with their base remedial investigation,” said ADEQ Waste Programs Division Director Laura Malone.
When PFAS was first detected in 2018, Tucson Water shut down backup wells located to the north of DMAFB from its drinking water distribution system to make sure the public water supply remained safe to drink.
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey called on U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Lloyd Austin in April 2021 to quickly act on the PFAS groundwater contamination near Arizona’s four military installations.
