Clean Water. Clear Answers.

PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” appear in state water reports for Montevallo. This page explains what they are, who could be most affected, and practical steps the city can take to reduce exposure. It is written for neighbors, not specialists.

PFAS in plain English

  • Factory-made chemicals that linger in water, soil, and people.
  • Linked in research to developmental, reproductive, liver, metabolic, and cancer risks.
  • Can move through wastewater and reach farms through sewage sludge (“biosolids”).

Who could be most affected

  • Pregnancy and infants: exposure can begin before birth; PFAS can be present in breast milk.
  • Children and teens: growing bodies are more sensitive to lasting effects.
  • Adults: higher risks reported for several cancers and thyroid problems.

What local records indicate

  • PFAS detections are listed in state water reports for Montevallo.
  • Sludge practices can move PFAS onto fields and into food pathways, affecting families and farmers.
  • Public notices have not always been timely or easy to understand.

These notes summarize documents reviewed by Dr. Rod Macpherson and public records.

Current gap

There is no public, dated, and funded plan for PFAS treatment, and no simple monthly summary page that explains test results at a glance.

A practical path forward

  1. Publish a one-page monthly water summary with links to the state reports.
  2. Expand testing to a wider set of PFAS and post every result online.
  3. Set a treatment timeline and budget, and report progress each month.
  4. Manage sludge so PFAS are not shifted to fields or food.
  5. Give plain-language notice before activities that affect public health.

Prepared by Dr. Rod Macpherson. Plain-language summary for Montevallo residents.