PFAS Historical Timeline in Hastings

Here’s a look at how PFAS has affected our city over time and what we’ve done about it:

2007
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) started testing Hastings’ wells for PFAS.

2011
MDH found PFOA in our water for the first time. At the time, it was still within safe levels.

2011 – Now
MDH continues to test all our city wells four times a year.

June 15, 2022
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shared new health advice. For the first time, our wells might be above safe PFAS levels.

September 6, 2022
MDH talked to our City Council about PFAS in Hastings.

February 21, 2023
We held a City Council Workshop to talk about the results of a study by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). It was our first look at possible PFAS sources in our groundwater.

March 14, 2023
The EPA shared a draft rule saying the safety limit for PFOA and PFOS should be 4 parts per trillion (ppt).

July 2023
We talked about PFAS in our 2022 Consumer Confidence Report. This was the first time we included it.

August 7, 2023
We shared the results of a Feasibility Study with City Council. It looked at how we could remove PFAS from our water using three treatment plants.

January 16, 2024
MDH set new health guidelines for PFOA and PFOS—much lower than before. All 6 wells tested above these new levels. No action was required yet.

April 10, 2024
The EPA made the 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS official. Cities now have 5 years to lower levels below that limit.

May 9, 2024
We held a public meeting at Hastings High School to talk about PFAS. Experts from MDH and MPCA helped answer questions.

October 2024
We learned that PFAS from the 3M Cottage Grove site reached our Well No. 5. Because of this, Hastings will get about $14.5 million from the 3M East Metro Settlement. This money will help us clean up Well No. 5.