How PFAS are Shaping Rome's Water Future

By Anna Wade

The Oostanaula River

After years of industrial pollution, Rome’s drinking water is being rebuilt from the ground up to remove toxic “forever chemicals.” For decades, the carpet and textile industries upstream in Dalton, Chatsworth and Calhoun relied on a class of synthetic chemicals known as PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, to make products stain-resistant and durable. These PFAS, sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their inability to break down naturally, have since found their way into the region’s waterways.

Jesse Demonbreun-Chapman, executive director and Riverkeeper of the Coosa River

Basin Initiative (CRBI), discusses the threat that forever chemicals pose to the Rome

community.

“These chemicals in very low concentrations can cause a whole host of public health

risks, including higher rates of certain types of cancer, liver and kidney problems,

hormone disruption, and generally just an overall reduced effectiveness of the immune

system,” said Demonbreun-Chapman. “The combination of their persistence combined

with how problematic they can be in very small concentrations is why they're a

problem.”

Rome’s encounter with forever chemicals came to public attention in 2016, when the

city discovered that its drinking water, drawn from the Oostanaula River, exceeded

federal health advisory limits. Rome was able to quickly switch to their backup water

source, the Etowah River, preventing further damage. After years of litigation, Rome

secured over $200 million in settlements from carpet manufacturers and Dalton Utilities

to build a new water-treatment plant featuring reverse osmosis, one of the few proven

methods to remove forever chemicals from drinking water.

While the new facility is a major victory for public health, it also highlights deeper issues

with water infrastructure and long-term planning. Dr. Courtney Cooper, an assistant professor of environmental science and studies at Berry College, said that the forever chemicals crisis emphasizes the cost and importance of maintaining clean water in aging systems.

“Our water treatment facilities are getting old, and they don’t get any younger,” Cooper

said. “It’s expensive to remove PFAS, and holding polluters accountable is essential if

we want to protect public health.” Cooper added that Rome’s success in securing funding is unusual. “Many communities don’t have the resources to rebuild their systems,” she said. “The

lawsuits have provided crucial support for upgrades, but they can’t make up for decades

of environmental damage.”

Rome’s success reflects years of community organizing and public pressure. Groups

such as CRBI have helped residents stay informed and pushed for accountability from

manufacturers and utilities. Without that local engagement, the lawsuits might never

have happened and Rome would be without the resources to build a new

water-treatment plant.

The story serves as a reminder that clean water depends not only on technology, but on

persistence from city leaders, scientists, and citizens willing to demand better.

Dr. Zack Taylor, associate professor of environmental science at Berry, said industrial

pollution is not the only factor putting stress on local water systems. Stormwater runoff,

agriculture, and urban development are all growing threats that compound the effects of

chemical contamination.

“Most people think of pollution as pipes dumping waste, what we call point-source

pollution,” Taylor said. “But what we struggle with now is everything else: runoff, land

use, construction. Once it gets in the river, it’s almost impossible to treat.” Climate change in the Southeast only worsens this issue. The ecosystem experiences

both heavier flooding and more frequent droughts. This only further strains the water

systems.

Despite these concerns, Taylor said collaboration among local agencies, nonprofits and

educators is encouraging for the future of the Rome community. “Rome’s quick, decisive action is something we can learn from,” he said. “It shows what can happen when science, policy, and community advocacy work together.”

Rome’s mission to remove “forever chemicals” is far from over, but its progress offers

hope for the future. In an era of industrial runoff and chemical waste, the city’s decision

to rebuild its water system is proof that environmental recovery is possible with time,

effort, and resources.