PFAS and what Olmsted County is doing about them
They’ve been getting a lot of attention lately – Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – or PFAS. But what are PFAS and what is Olmsted County doing about them?
PFAS are widely used, man-made chemicals in products like food packaging, textiles, cleaners, and cosmetics. PFAS are highly persistent chemicals that don’t break down easily, leading to long-term accumulation in the body and environment, which can result in harmful health effects. PFAS can enter the human body through various exposure to these products, including through consumption, interactions, or breathing air contaminated by PFAS.
What Olmsted County is doing about PFAS
Olmsted County is taking the following steps:
- Participating in voluntary and state-mandated PFAS environmental monitoring at the Kalmar Landfill and Olmsted Waste-to-Energy Facility (OWEF).
- Researching landfill leachate treatment opportunities to minimize delivery of PFAS to the Rochester Water Reclamation Plant.
- Working with both public and private solid waste organizations to research, develop guidance, and provide information-sharing to understand and mitigate the presence of PFAS in the waste stream.
- Supporting legislation that will reduce the use of PFAS in consumer and industrial products.
All municipal and community water systems monitored for PFAS in Olmsted County by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) are considered safe for all people to consume. More details are available on this MDH interactive map.
Learn more
There are steps residents can take to reduce exposure to PFAS. Learn more by visiting the new PFAS page on our Olmsted County website.