Read the full article by Wicked Local Action
“The Acton Water District mailed out a public notice – as required by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) – to all residents on June 26 discussing levels of PFAS detected in the drinking water.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that includes PFOA, PFOS, GenX. PFAS have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries around the world since the 1940s. Exposure to these chemicals can accumulate over time and there is evidence that exposure can lead to adverse human health effects.
According to the public notice letter, the Acton Water District (AWD) proactively sampled for PFAS based on the presence of two Superfund Sites – W.R. Grace and Nuclear Metals, Inc – in Acton and the push towards further regulation of PFAS at the State and Federal level. Based on the results of initial testing, all production wells and treatment plants serving the town were sampled for PFAS.
The letter stated that samples collected between January 13, 2020 and April 28, 2020 from multiple well sources showed a range of 0.0 to 48.33 ppt of the combined total of the following six PFAS compounds: PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, PFHpA, and PFDA. For the most recent data table, click here. The 2019 Water Quality Data Table can be found here.
Currently two of Acton’s five water treatment plants have tested above the MassDEP Guideline and proposed drinking water regulatory limit of 20 parts per trillion (ppt) for six PFAS compounds.
The water supply well with the highest initial PFAS levels (Assabet 1A Well) was removed from service on March 9 and has been used in a limited capacity. Additional monitoring is required…”