Big Idea

• Following the City of Prescott, the Town of Prescott Valley tests wells for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs)
• Four wells had higher-than-recommended levels of PFAs
• Those wells were taken off line in response
• So far, Prescott Valley has provided no guidance as to the next steps
• Read more…

Prescott Valley tests 25 wells, shuts down 4

After the City of Prescott announced in July that it had shut down two of its wells near the Prescott airport because of positive tests for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), Prescott Valley immediately tested all but two of its 27 wells (the two were offline). Of the 25 wells tested, four were found to have measurable amounts of the chemicals in the water pumped. Because one of the tests was considered uncertain, the well is being retested to ensure there was no testing error.

As part of an earlier Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitoring program, the Town had tested all its upper system wells for these same chemicals in 2014-2015, and three wells in its lower system in 2018, with negative results. Based on the results of this follow-up test, the Town has shut down all four of the wells that tested positive this year and will follow up with a plan for further action that includes consulting with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

The four wells are Little Pete and Lake Valley in central Prescott Valley, and Quailwood 2 and 3 in east Prescott Valley. The Town’s wells are interconnected so water can be moved to different areas to serve the community during repairs or shutdowns.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are not currently regulated by the EPA, but the agency has advised that exposure to high levels of these chemicals may be harmful to human health. In June 2022, EPA significantly reduced the health advisory levels for the chemicals. Other communities throughout Arizona and the nation are also experiencing positive tests for PFAS with the lowered testing threshold. The chemicals are commonly found in some grease-resistant paper such as in fast-food containers, pizza boxes, stain resistant coatings, water resistant clothing, some cleaning and personal care products, paint products, and aqueous firefighting foams.

More information on PFAS may be found at:

https://www.epa.gov/pfas

https://www.azdeq.gov/pfas-resources

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 at https://pv-azgov.info/3c9HDrd

For additional questions, please call the Prescott Valley Utilities Department at 928-759-3070 or visit www.prescottvalley-az.gov.