Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs allocated $5 million to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to expand its research to investigate and reduce harmful perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminating Arizona’s environment. The money was allocated through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which funds various programs supporting public health and economic recovery. This builds on Arizona’s $5 million investment in 2023, which tested small public drinking water systems statewide.
“This critical funding allows ADEQ to expand PFAS monitoring, assess treatment options and provide timely information to Arizonans — furthering the state’s commitment to protecting public health and Arizona’s vital water resources,” ADEQ Director Karen Peters said in an ADEQ press release Thursday.
ADEQ will test groundwater, surface water, and fish tissue. ADEQ will test six critical groundwater sites, all of which were confirmed to be contaminated between 2022 and 2024. The six sites were selected for their proximity to vital drinking water sources and level of contamination. ADEQ will test and monitor new and preexisting wells, complete site-specific investigation reports, and host community outreach events.
According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, PFAS are a complex group of man-made chemicals found in consumer products. PFAS have been used in everyday items internationally since the ’40s, and exposure has been linked to serious health effects, such as cancer, immune system disruption, and developmental issues. Research on PFAS on human health is still ongoing, but it is known that PFAS do not degrade easily in the environment, giving them the alternate name “forever chemicals.”
To learn more about ADEQ’s PFAS strategy, visit their website.