Forever Chemicals

City Manager Carlos Baia told city council members that he's reaching out to Hillsborough County and Tampa to consider hooking up to their systems.

The pilot project's technology can break down PFAS in biosolids while also converting those biosolids into energy.

Under the changes, the agency would eliminate strict limits for four PFAS and allow utilities to request a two-year extension to remove two other PFAS from tap water.

North Florida's flat, rural cattle pastures — longtime dumping grounds of South Florida's sewage sludge — will close their gates to feces-filled trucks by 2028. That's owing to a provision of Florida's Farm Bill.

As many as 50 private water wells in the Woodville area south of Tallahassee could have PFAS levels that exceed government standards. A nearby wastewater spray field could be the source.

For at least one water utility in Central Florida, PFAS settlement payments are starting to arrive.

Testing at a well in Tarpon Springs was nine times the limit. A well in Holiday measured 19 times the limit. The science is unclear as of yet as to the health risks of drinking water contaminated with "forever chemicals."

Fish, barnacles, oysters, water and sediment are being studied by researchers with the USF College of Marine Science.

While some are worried about impacts to personal health and local businesses, others are thinking about disclosures within the real estate market.

The water supplier for Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties doesn't yet know how much it'll cost to get slightly elevated levels of PFAS filtered out of a few of its water sources.

Biosolids aren't tested for forever chemicals before being used as fertilizer in Florida. Testing requirements would help reduce risk, according to St. Johns Riverkeeper.

The FDA's announced changes will offer utilities more flexibility to comply with regulations that could come at a cost to public and environmental health.