COPYRIGHT, The Republic, Columbus
COLUMBUS, Ind. — Columbus has shut down a municipal well after testing by state regulators found elevated levels of long-lasting and highly toxic chemicals linked to cancer and other illnesses.
The well, which is located between Garden City and the railroad tracks on the south side of the city, was shut down after testing by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management detected PFAS at levels that exceed proposed federal limits.
PFAS — per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — are a cluster of industrial chemicals associated with a variety of serious health conditions and have been used in products ranging from cookware to carpets and firefighting foams and consumer products since the 1940s, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Research suggests exposure to certain levels of PFAS can lead to reproductive effects in humans, developmental delays, increased risks for certain cancers, elevated cholesterol levels and weakening of the immune system, according to the EPA.
Officials at Columbus City Utilities said they are taking the results seriously and are evaluating treatment technology to completely remove PFAS from the city’s drinking water.
“We’re aware (of the results), and we have extremely positive plans going forward to eliminate this from our water very quickly,” said city utilities director Roger Kelso.
IDEM began testing certain participating public water systems for PFAS in 2021. The effort has been broken into phases based on community size, with Columbus in the third phase of testing, which includes water systems that serve more than 10,000 people.
Participation in IDEM’s PFAS testing program was voluntary.
