A grant was awarded to UVA researchers, in partnership with TCWA and others,
to develop accessible PFAS-tests.
“Forever Chemical” aka per-and poly-flouroaklyl substances (PFAS) are a threat to human health and a major concern for TCWA. They are of particular concern to rural residents who rely on private residential wells which are vulnerable to PFAS exposure from the spreading of contaminated biosolids on farmland. Household well water testing programs like Virginia Tech’s do not include PFAS in their routine testing. Folks on rural wells must seek out other means of testing for PFAS, with costs ranging from $80 to $300+ for a single test.
To address the need amongst rural folks to test their water for these harmful chemicals, a pair of UVA Researchers is developing an extremely low-cost PFAS test strip that could help rural Virginians test the safety of their well water.
The collaboration was spear-headed by UVA researchers Dr. Bryan Berger and Dr. Michael Timko, and Don’t Spread on Me’s Stuart Overbey. Area non-profits Allegheny Blue Ridge Alliance and the Totier Creek Watershed Association are supporting organizations. The team was recently awarded a $75,000 grant from the UVA School of Data Science to pursue this important work. We look forward to continued collaboration and the ability to offer inexpensive well water testing for folks living on rural wells within the Totier Creek Watershed!
