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Mayor and Members of Pleasanton City Council November 17, 2024 <br />Spending scarce money on test wells in southwest Pleasanton is a risky bet based on questionable and <br />incomplete information. Estimated costs have already increased, requiring approval for a revised <br />contract amount. <br />1) The proposed test wells, costing roughly ~$1 million each ($2.7M total), are proposed to be <br />drilled in neighborhood parks in areas allegedly tapping groundwater not yet contaminated with <br />toxic PFAS. The risky spending is not justified given City budget deficits, especially with the <br />recent defeat of Pleasanton’s tax Measure PP. <br />2) Since costs for test wells have increased, it is likely that the cost of production wells has also <br />increased above previous estimates. Accordingly, life-cycle cost comparisons should be provided <br />that addresses three scenarios: <br />a) Test wells leading to production wells; <br />b) Test wells not leading to new production wells; and <br />c) Wellhead treatment <br />3) The test wells are planned prior to installing actual production wells that would be drilled <br />hundreds of feet deep, pump millions of gallons of water per day, and likely result in accelerated <br />movement of PFAS plumes to the west, under Pleasanton. <br />4) Zone 7 has stated that a groundwater barrier/obstacle precludes movement of the PFAS plumes <br />into uncontaminated areas of SW Pleasanton. Review of data by credible licensed <br />Geologists/Hydrogeologists does not support the presence of a groundwater barrier that would <br />protect new wells. <br />5) Numerous professionals are opposed to the plan to install test wells followed by new production <br />wells, rather than continue and expand wellhead treatment of PFAS contamination. <br />6) In contrast to the proposed new wells, wellhead treatment at existing wells would inhibit the <br />spread of PFAS, act to remove PFAS from our groundwater basin and provide clean drinking <br />water. The cost of wellhead treatment would also be less in the long run. The health effects of <br />ingestion of PFAS are serious and not yet well-known in our local area. Remedial actions are <br />overdue. <br />7) The legality of knowingly accelerating the spread of PFAS contamination may violate <br />environmental laws meant to preserve the quality of waters of the State for current and future <br />generations. <br />8) PFAS ostensibly has been seeping below ground and impacting groundwater for many years. <br />According to the 2020 Jacobs Engineering Report, probable source areas have been identified. <br />But surprisingly little has been done in the way of investigation/remediation of PFAS sources <br />(believed to be primarily from sites using fire-fighting foam containing PFAS). <br />9) Local and regional professionals have provided information about the potential problems of new <br />production wells in southwest Pleasanton. Approximately 230 concerned persons have signed <br />a petition (from the Tri-Valley Groundwater group) objecting to test wells and new production <br />wells. Signers of the petition include licensed Geologists/Hydrogeologists, clean-water <br />advocates, health professionals, attorneys, neighbors in the well-site areas, etc. <br />Now is the time to stop spending taxpayers/ratepayers’ money on test wells and production wells <br />based on flawed and incomplete information. New production wells pumping at high rates could <br />quickly become contaminated with PFAS, spreading PFAS further across the Basin and then costing