If you had asked the average person in Chattooga County what a PFAS was a few years ago, it’s doubtful many could have told you.  But the term – which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl  substances, is something water customers with the City of Summerville became very familiar with area residents since January of 2020.

That’s when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency changed its standards for the amount of allowable PFAS in public water systems and sent the City of Summerville into a water crisis, since the water coming from Raccoon Creek, that supplies the bulk of the city’s water, had levels of PFAS higher than the new standard.

The EPA is addressing the PFAS problem in the south, where the man-made substance has been a major issue due to the number of textile mills. The EPA has scheduled a “PFAS Strategic Road Map” virtual meeting for Region 4 that includes Georgia, Alabama and six other states, along with six Native American tribes.

The virtual session will be held Tuesday, March, 21, 2023.  It will provide information on what the plan means for the region, which covers Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and 6 Tribes. It also offers an opportunity to share feedback directly with EPA Regional and PFAS Council leaders.

Visit PfasCommunityEngagement.org to sign up for a reminder and link, and to indicate if you want to speak.