Freeport is entering the final stage of a decade-long effort to remove harmful “forever chemicals” from the municipal water supply. City and project leaders recently broke ground on a new well and water treatment facility designed to eliminate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS.
The project comes as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency warns that PFAS exposure can increase cancer rates, cause high blood pressure and lead to developmental defects. This initiative addresses infrastructure needs in a system where some original components date back to 1905, according to project manager Darin Stykel.
Freeport City Manager Rob Boyer said the groundbreaking marks a significant milestone for the municipality…