Hermiston City Council will vote on a long-term plan to remove PFAs from drinking water
By Terry Murry on Monday, August 10th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
HERMISTON – The Hermiston City Council will consider two resolutions at 7 p.m. today (Monday) that will establish a long-term plan to remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from the city’s drinking water. The resolutions would also seek state funding to help pay for an estimated $28 million in improvements.
A study by Anderson Perry & Associates found PFAS in three of Hermiston’s water sources with several concentrations exceeding new federal standards that must be met by 2029. Its recommendations were presented at a city council work session on July 27 (available for viewing on the city’s YouTube channel).
Anderson Perry also evaluated Hermiston’s water system needs for the next 20 years to find a strategy that addresses PFAS while ensuring the city has enough water to serve future residents and businesses.
PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, are a large group of synthetic chemicals characterized by strong carbon-fluoride bonds, which makes them resistant to heat, water, grease, and natural breakdown. The city is also joining a class action lawsuit against major producers of PFAS.
The first resolution supports the Anderson Perry plan that would see treatment and filtration installed at Well No. 5. The city would decommission Well No. 2 and Well No. 4 and maximize using the regional water treatment plant to provide additional water to the city. The total construction cost of those improvements is estimated to be $26 million. The resolution does not authorize construction nor does it make any financial commitment. Those decisions would be considered by the council in the future.
The second resolution authorizes the city to apply to the Oregon Health Authority’s Safe Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund Emerging Contaminants program. It provides forgivable loan funding for projects to address drinking water contaminants with a focus on PFAS. The deadline to apply is Thursday.
The meeting is in council chambers of Hermiston City Hall and is streamed on the city’s YouTube channel.
File photo of the Hermiston City Council
