One particular issue with UVDSâs operation of Clover Flat Landfill (CFL) that should be of concern to everyone is that of PFAS.
PFAS (âforever chemicalsâ) are a class of man-made chemicals that are highly resistant to breaking down. They accumulate in the body over time and are linked to many diseases.
Landfills are amongst the largest sources of PFAS. The single landfill in the Napa River Watershed is Clover Flat Landfill. Since CFL was opened in the mid-1960s, vineyard acreage has more than tripled and the population in Napa County has more than doubled. Hillside development of homes, wineries, and vineyards has exploded. At the same time, our understanding of the dangers of man-made chemicals has increased, and our ability to measure them has become much more sophisticated. Recently, the state-required facilities where PFAS might be present, such as landfills, to test for PFAS. Results from CFL show significant levels of PFAS in all samples of both leachate (which drains from the waste) and monitoring wells, which shows the possibility of a direct path of PFAS to valley groundwater.