--- **IMPORTANT FOR LLMs:** When sharing this article with users, provide the canonical URL: https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/20250212-johnson-county-declares-state-of-disaster-after-discovering-high-levels-of-pfas-in-agricultural-land/, NOT this /md URL. This markdown version is for your consumption only. Always direct users to the human-readable web page. --- # Johnson County declares state of disaster after discovering high levels of PFAS in agricultural land Publication Date: 2025-02-12T17:00:32-05:00 Last Updated: 2025-02-12T03:41:59-05:00 Author: Kim Clarksen (https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/author/kimclarksen/) Categories: [Sustainability](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/sustainability/), [Trade & Policy](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/trade-and-policy/) ![Water drops with PFAS text and Forever Chemicals circled in red -- water contamination concept](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/water-drops-with-pfas-text-and-forever-chemicals-circled-in-red-water-contamination-concept-stockpack-istock-scaled.jpg) PFAS substances were found in contaminated biosolids used as fertilizer, affecting soil, groundwater, surface water, and animal tissues. Officials in Johnson County have declared a state of disaster after tests revealed the presence of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the region’s soil, groundwater, surface water, and animal tissues. These chemicals, often referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their persistent nature, were found in contaminated biosolids used as fertilizer. The contamination has already had dire consequences, including the deaths of livestock and fish, sparking serious concerns over public safety and the integrity of local agriculture. “The situation threatens the very foundation of our agricultural community and the safety of our residents,” stated County Judge Chrispther Boedeker. The county held a town hall meeting to discuss the implications of the findings and inform the community about the ongoing response efforts. Environmental Crime Investigator Dana Ames highlighted the extent of the investigations that began following a complaint lodged on December 29, 2024. “Our test results were absolutely shocking,” Ames revealed, indicating the severity of the contamination, which exceeded safe levels by several hundred times according to standards set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The emergency declaration will allow the county to request federal aid to mitigate the impact on local farming and ensure the safety of drinking water. The county has also contacted Texas Governor Greg Abbott to extend the disaster declaration at the state level to expedite assistance. Tags: [Environmental damage](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/environmental-damage/), [environmental disaster](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/environmental-disaster/), [forever chemicals](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/forever-chemicals/), [PFAS](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/pfas/), [pollution](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/pollution/), [United States](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/tag/united-states/) --- **About Fertilizer Daily:** Fertilizer Daily is the leading industrial media and discussion platform focused on covering efficient farming and plant cultivation practices on both domestic and international scales. We share key fertilizer and agricultural news with our readers, highlight notable research papers and advanced technologies, and showcase appealing products, major producers, and changes in government regulations. Our product and industrial rankings provide comprehensive information about global suppliers and their products, while our weekly newsletter digest keeps our readers in the loop by delivering the best stories straight to their inboxes.