The city of Columbia Falls has removed one of its three water wells from service after a recent detection of perfuorooctanic acid was found in the water above Environmental Protection Agency standards for drinking water.

PFAS are one of thousands of chemicals known as “forever chemicals” because they take a long time to break down in the environment. They were commonly used in dozens of products, from Gore-Tex waterprooof clothing, Teflon coatings on cooking pans and a host of other materials. They have been linked to cancer in humans and other ailments, such as reproductive problems, like decreased fertility or increased high blood pressure in pregnant women.

The EPA maximum contaminant level for PFAS is 4 parts per trillion. The city’s LP well sampled at 7 parts per trillion in raw water from the well and 7.2 parts per trillion at the distribution point in a test this month in two tests.

“Although the recent results from the affected well exceed 4 parts per trillion, these two samples alone do not constitute a current federal MCL violation,” the city said in a release.

Still, the city decided to shut down the well as a precaution, City Manager Eric Hanks told council Monday night.

The city has two other wells, located along Talbot Road, that can fulfill the city’s current needs. Those wells did not test positive for PFOAs and the city did not issue a “do not drink” or “do not use” order. 

The city does not treat its water. It is pumped directly from the wells into a storage tank north of the city and then gravity flows back into town.

The LP well is the city’s oldest well and is located near a former sawmill and industrial site. There is no evidence the activity there was contaminating the water, however. PFAS are not used by sawmills and the mill itself is long gone.

“The city is not attributing the detection to any property owner, business, industrial or commercial activity or other source,” the city said in a release.

The city will continue to do independent testing of the LP well through a separate qualified laboratory.

Columbia Falls is not alone in having this problem. The city of Kalispell found similar chemicals in some of its wells in 2022. But Kalispell waited two years before notifying the public, according to a Daily Inter Lake story.

A part per trillion is an extremely small amount. According to the website Environmental Working Group, a part per trillion would be the equivalent to 7 square feet in the 7 trillion square feet that make up the state of Texas. It takes just a few seconds to walk across this ground.

Still, the chemicals have proven potent enough for the EPA to set very low drinking water thresholds.

In the long term, the city will not likely invest in expensive water filtration systems. It was already anticipating having to drill another well, Hanks told council.

“We’re fortunate the other two wells can handle the capacity,” noted Mayor Don Barnhart.

People with questions can contact Hanks at 406-892-4384.