PFAS levels exceed limits in private wells near St. Valentin

Investigations have found per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, in private wells around the OMV tank farm in St. Valentin, ORF reported. Parts of St. Pantaleon-Erla and Ennsdorf are affected, while the public drinking water supply is not, OMV said.

About 100 water samples were taken across the potential investigation area, including 70 from private wells. The samples exceeded the European Union drinking water limit of 0.1 micrograms, or 100 nanograms, per litre, which has been in force since January.

OMV advised affected residents not to use their private wells until further technical assessment for drinking water, watering fruit and vegetables, filling pools, watering animals, fish ponds or similar purposes. It said residents should use water from the public drinking water network exclusively for drinking, cooking and preparing food.

OMV said PFAS had not been used or produced at the St. Valentin tank farm or in the company’s production processes. However, PFAS-containing firefighting foams had been used in the past in accordance with their approval, the company said.

Firefighting foam used during drills at the OMV site may also have allowed the substances, sometimes called forever chemicals, to enter the soil in Mannswörth in the district of Bruck an der Leitha. Groundwater in the affected area contained up to 0.3 micrograms per litre, three times the limit.

Mannswörth is directly next to Schwechat, where the OMV refinery is located. PFAS were also detected in drinking water in Schwechat, but two tests found levels below the legal limit. Another test was scheduled for September.