Hastings residents question safety of drinking water, officials working towards a solution
The Hastings community got the chance to ask questions about the forever chemicals in the city’s drinking water at a Thursday meeting.
As reported by 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS last month, five of the city’s six wells were found to have PFAS levels above the newly established national limits for the so-called “forever chemicals.” The city previously said its PFAS levels did not exceed MDH guideline levels until the new EPA limit took effect.
Hastings Mayor Mary Fasbender said Thursday that the city’s entire water system is compromised and that her goal is to make sure residents have clean drinking water — but it’s an effort that will take years and millions of dollars.
Members of the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency also gave presentations with recent water testing results.
In the packed Hastings High School auditorium, residents questioned whether their drinking water is safe.
RELATED: Homeowner’s guide to filtering out PFAS from water supply
The city is already making plans for three water treatment facilities, which would cost nearly $69 million. And without federal or state aid, water rates could go up.
“If we’re going to pay for this without assistance, it will double our water rates in two years, triple in four years and continue to increase to 250% over the next ten years,” said Ryan Stempski, Hastings Public Works director.
Much of Minnesota’s PFAS contamination has been linked to 3M facilities in the east metro. In 2018, the state reached an $850 million settlement with the company to clean up PFAS from the water supply. As part of a settlement that was finalized this year, 3M will pay another $10 billion to water utilities across the country.
Hastings says the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and 3M are working together to understand the connection between groundwater contamination and the Mississippi River, a step that could allow the city to access state settlement funds.
The city said it is also applying for federal and state aid to help pay for the three treatment facilities — a project expected to take five years.
RELATED: Entire Mississippi River within Minnesota borders to be sampled as part of new initiative