City of Fairfax gets update on unpermitted wells and concerns for possible PFAS

FAIRFAX, Iowa (KCRG) — Fairfax is learning what’s next after discovering that around 70 wells were dug at the construction site without a permit for one of the planned Cedar Rapids data centers.

The city’s Water Supervisor, Brian Merta, spoke to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources last week. He said some of the wells will be permitted, but not every planned well got approved.

Merta learned there had been a permit granted for another shallow well and plans to potentially dig another in the future. He said the DNR denied a third well request that was closest to Fairfax. That denial was based on the number of people who get their water from a well in that area.

Merta said he was also hearing from residents concerned about “forever chemicals” showing up in their water. This is an area near the airport where levels of PFAS have been an issue. Merta said the city plans to monitor this as the project moves forward, but said the levels are already going up south of the airport and Fairfax.

“There are quite a few down around the Swisher area that are having issues that are going up,” said Merta. “Whether they are above the issues or near the limits is on the DNR’s website.”

Merta said residents can call the data center’s construction company to see if it will offer what’s called “data loggers” that people can use to better monitor their well water.

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