Sierra Club and "Explore, enjoy and protect the planet" are registered trademarks of the Sierra Club. BOSTON Attorney General Maura Healey today sued 13 manufacturers of poly- and perfluoroalkyl (PFAS) "forever" chemicals used in firefighting foam for causing millions of dollars in damages to communities across Massachusetts by knowingly contaminating drinking water sources, groundwater, and other natural resources with highly toxic PFAS chemi. In Massachusetts, the Department of Environmental Protection has been studying the effects of PFAS, and has recently set strict guidelines for maximum allowable levels in our drinking water. Environmental Science & Technology 2022 56 (3), 1510-1521 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04158. Read the full article by David Abel (Boston Globe) "After announcing that the town's water supply contained elevated levels of the toxic chemicals known as PFAS, selectmen at a recent virtual meeting in Pepperell turned to another thorny subject: Should the town try to opt out of state-mandated aerial and roadside spraying of pesticides?. University of Massachusetts (UMass), to select and provide for free sampling of selected private wells. But they're lower this month, and inorder to use Elm Bank on an emergency basis and ensure Natick has enough water to meet customer demand the towninstituted a ban on all non-essential outdoor water use. The agency has signaled thelevels will be very low. Find out where they have been found and what Massachusetts is doing to address them. state of MA, the analyte PFAS, and the Matrix potable water to produce a list of MassDEP certified labs that test for PFAS in drinking water . After much hard work and coordination between contractors and Town staff, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has completed inspections and granted approval for the operation of the newly installed PFAS-removal Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filters, which will treat the H&T portion of the Springvale Water Treatme. The PFAS levels in that water are around 10 parts per trillion, below the state limit. Northeastern University Expert Recommends State Task Force Test Blood For Chemical Contaminant PFAS, DEP Chief Calls For Broader Monitoring Of PFAS, Chris Van Buskirk, State House New Service. A virtual public information session on Naticks PFAS problemis scheduled for 7-8 p.m. today. The town learned of elevated PFAS levels in the Happy Hollow well field in early February,. And theres another wrinkle, as water industry advocate Jennifer Pederson pointed out: cleaning up drinking water alone wont solve the states PFAS problem. But it's doubtful that even millions of dollars will be enough to clean up water pollution this widespread, and in the end, the cost of safewater will be borne by residents. Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff In Wayland, local officials had been distributing cases of bottled water to 1,400 households a week nearly a third of the suburb's residents and may have to seek a. And because they are so pervasive, they may as well be called everywhere chemicals, too. High level of PFAS contamination detected in one of Natick's 'active' sources of drinking water, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Europe is phasing out PFAS. PDF Massachusetts and PFAS - Clean Water Action . "Substantial investments have been made in Massachusetts to the tune of $100 million-plus already," said Jennifer Pederson, executive director of the Massachusetts Water Works Association, an industry group. I mean, its absolutely mind-boggling.. But officials quickly realized that they were not going to be able to remove them. Require manufacturers to disclose if PFAS is intentionally added to products. "That's a really hard question to answer," he said. Another option could be to get MWRA water from water systems in Wayland or Wellesley. "And we have some huge ticket items here in town, including a bridge. Concern for these chemicals has increased testing all over the world, and results show presence in everything from the fish we eat from lakes and streams to our drinking water and even the packaging and bottles our food and beverages come in. As of June 22, 2022, 77% of Massachusetts cities and towns have found PFAS in their drinking water. Managing PFAS was a learning experience, he said, and one of the biggest challenges was sending out those public notifications advising residents of wells over the state's maximum contamination level of 20 parts per trillion. Then, she laughed. To date, 170 water systems in the state have found PFAS levels over the legal limit. Stay up to date on all the latest news from Boston.com. Whoops! We were unable to subscribe you to WBUR Today. Scientists are concerned about how exposure to PFAS and other toxic chemicals can worsen the impacts of COVID-19. In the spring of 20222, the Massachusetts Attorney Generals Office filed a lawsuit against 13 chemical companies and firefighting foam manufacturers for the damage that their products have caused in Massachusetts. EPA Announces New Proposed Levels ForPFAS in Our Drinking Water. Industrial solvents and solvents in common household items pollute the air we breathe and water we drink, even killing some who use them. But even when town officials manage to solve PFAS problems, it can create other water quality and quantity issues in the system, Wetzel said. "I'm hopeful that it's going to result in stricter regulation, and preventing the use of chemicals that have not been adequately tested," Heiger-Bernays said. Massachusetts has set some of the nation's most stringent limits on PFAS in drinking water. Whats inside is a $16 million, state-of-the-art plant designed to treat Littletons drinking water for the toxic chemicals known as PFAS. The so-called forever chemicals have contaminated drinking water supplies across Massachusetts, and theres no easy or cheap way to remove them. Wayland is now looking at a possible permanent MWRA connection. Town administrators, public works employees, and water management officials spoke to the Legislature's PFAS Interagency Task Force Tuesday morning and largely told state lawmakers that more help is needed in cities and towns to prevent and manage the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl contamination in water. Communities with PFAS levels above the legal limit for 3 consecutive months must take action to reduce PFAS in their drinking water. California requires disclosure of toxic chemicals in cleaning and personal care products. Update drinking water regulations to address emerging science, specifically expanding the maximum contaminant level for PFAS in drinking water to include all PFAS chemicals for which certified lab testing methods exist. You can set your address, phone number, email and site description in the settings tab.Link to read me page with more information. Bostons water is safe by these standards: The Massachusetts Water Resource Authority, which fully serves much of the Boston area, has not found elevated PFAS levels in the two reservoirs which supply to full-serve municipalities. You can try, Private well owners stuck with costs to treat 'forever chemicals', Tracing the path of toxic forever chemicals inside the body. Healey said at the time that she was looking for a settlement in the millions.. The state has already allocated $170 millionto PFAS cleanup, and the federal government recently announced it will give Massachusetts $38 million to address emerging contaminants, like PFAS, in drinking water. We were unable to subscribe you to WBUR Today. official list of hazardous substances, Massachusetts DEP Chief Sees Need For Broader Monitoring Of PFAS. "We're actively investigating," Marsette said. Natick Town Meeting recently approved $3 million to fight PFAS. PFAS in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Final Report of the PFAS The agency cited studies linking PFAS contamination to liver problems, low birth weight, some cancers and other health issues. Municipal Services. This is a problem because PFAS are persistent, bio-accumulative chemicals that are toxic at very low levels. UPDATE: March 14, 2023 - The Environmental Protection Agency recently proposed new limits to tackle drinking water contamination from the toxic "forever chemicals" known as PFAS. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. In Massachusetts, theyre widespread in ground and surface waters, rivers and evenCape Cod ponds. They dwarfed the other tanks in the room. So it's a huge cost to the ratepayers. Firefighters have particularly high levels of PFAS in their blood, which only adds to their increased risk of developing cancer, the number one killer of firefighters. (Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images) Concerns about chemicals. Thats up from the 172 the organization had identified in July 2018. Take Littleton, for instance. Roughly 50 Massachusetts communities reported elevated PFAS levels in the past two years. Only 5% came from H & T, the one source with an elevated PFAS level. BOSTON (AP) Massachusetts has awarded $3 million in grants to 17 public water supply systems to support efforts to address elevated levels of so-called PFAS in drinking water. She referenced the essential uses framework, which would prioritize PFAS use where theyre necessary in things like medical devices and eliminate use in popcorn bags, fast food wrappers, and even firefighting foam. For example, New Yorks Child Safe Products Act, which requires disclosure and restricts the most toxic chemicals from being added to childrens products, is a model for the kind of health protective legislation Massachusetts should pass to better protect our states children. That gives you a sense of really how toxic these chemicals are, said Wendy Heiger-Bernays, a toxicologist at the Boston University School of Public Health. Its an amount that could represent the tip of the financial iceberg. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (or PFAS ) are a class of chemicals used since the 1940s to make products non-stick, stain-resistant, and waterproof. PFAS-containing firefighting foams used on and around the base sunk into the ground and contaminated drinking water wells. Together these chemicals are known as PFAS6. "The Town's been really good at appropriating monies. "Thats the carbon you need to remove the amount of PFAS we have.". The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is administering the new Interim PFAS6 Response Grant Program to provide funding to help offset the cost of initial responses implemented by water . Littletons water department has asmaller water supply connected to its own treatment plant on the other side of town. They should also compensate communities for the harm they have caused. Massachusetts enacted new safety regulations last fall, and 20 percent of public water sources that have . Were talking about a lot of money.. "The costs are just astronomical. PFAS chemicals were invented in the early 20th century. Many states have disclosure laws, requiring manufacturers to disclose their product ingredients to the public, retailers and regulators. Schaider said the steps Massachusetts has taken are a great starting point, but there needs to be more broad work done to prevent these chemicals from getting into our environment in the first place. "When we are dealing with four different LSPs in town, we're dealing with four different projects in different stages of remediation. The contamination, Dembkoski said, primarily affects the center of town which includes a town hall, library, elementary and middle school, two churches, and a large residential area. Massachusetts Announces Grants to Address PFAS in Drinking Water About 50 Massachusetts communities have experiencedelevated PFAS levels in their public water systems in the past two years, according toa spokesman with the state Department of Environmental Protection. But they understand. These systems have taken or will take action to bring them into immediate and long-term compliance. Another recent study found that crashing waves create a boomerang effect with toxic PFAS re-emitted to air, transported long distances, and then deposited back onto land. They are found in blood, breast milk, and even umbilical cord blood of newborn babies. All ofMassachusetts rivers are contaminated with PFAS. The current maximum contaminant level is 70 parts per trillion (ppt). Last week, Massachusetts announced the availability of $2 million in new grant funding to help its public water systems address elevated levels of PFAS in their drinking water. The Environmental Protection Agency currently does not regulatePFAS in drinking water, but is expected to announce draft regulations in March. Westminster homeowners learned that PFAS levels in their wells are more than 50 times the states legal limit, residents who lived around the former Air National Guard base have PFAS levels in their blood that are 3.4 times the national average. Copyright 2023 WBUR. Dembkoski recommends the creation of a state oversight committee or department that LSPs can register the projects they're working on. offered by Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Learn about a group of contaminants in the environment called Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These municipalities represents over 20% of the state's population. Please try again later. Should you worry? Cleaning up PFAS in drinking water is rarely a one-and-done solution. It's a large, unadorned brick building resembling a fieldhouse. The state has already allocated $170 millionto PFAS cleanup, and the federal government recently announced it will give Massachusetts $38 million to address emerging contaminants, like PFAS, in drinking water. PFAS are man-made chemicals found in industry and consumer products across the globe dating to the 1950s. "People are pulling out everything to try to pay their bills. Thats why the new plant has all those giant tanks first they have to filter out the iron, and then the manganese and then, finally, the PFAS. (Jesse Costa/WBUR) This article is more than 1 year old. In 2020, Massachusetts set a limit on the amount of PFAS in public drinking water. Samples for May are beingtaken this week. Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, co-chairman of a congressional PFAS task force, has called PFAS one of the most widespread public health crises that Americans face today. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has a list of bottled water companies that comply with all applicable drinking water standards, including PFAS, which is available at this link : 21.05.6 list of bottlers.xlsx | Mass.gov . MIT researchers use gel found in diapers to draw record amounts of water from thin air, States take matters into their own hands to ban toxic 'forever chemicals'. They remain in the environment and can even build up in people and animals with repeated exposure over time, federal health officials said. Barnstable has so far invested $27 million to deal with PFAS, for example; and Cambridge recently spent $8.5 million to temporarily switch water supplies while changing its PFAS filters. Theyre used in things like nonstick pans, outdoor clothing, carpets, skis, and a particular type of firefighting foam used on oil or gasoline fires. Require chemical and material transparency for products. "Since everyone here is on private wells, this will include the installation of potentially hundreds of individual [point-of-entry water treatment] systems in and around this general vicinity where the testing is still being done," Dembkoski said. But if the regulations get stricter, that plant will likely need PFAS filters, too. Drinking water accounts for only part of the general publics PFAS exposure state scientists assume its about 20%. There are no legally enforceable limits for PFAS under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, EWG said. We're about to embark on a new library project. When towns must provide alternative water, ensure that water is available to all vulnerable populations, including those who cannot drive to central filling stations. Take Littleton, for instance. Volunteer Positions, Committees, and Teams, Regional Transportation Ballot Initiatives, 2023-2024 Legislative Priorities for Forest Protection, state has officially declared exceed the standard for PFAS, PFAS detected in drinking water supplies in Massachusetts, Privacy Policy/Your California Privacy Rights. "A thing of beauty!" ", Massachusetts regulators may need to expand PFAS monitoring into waste disposal, landfill and the atmosphere amid concerns about potential health risks, WBUR | "That gives you a sense of really how toxic these chemicals are.". Concerns, Costs Of PFAS Absorbing More Local Energy In Mass. Click here to see results for the 06-21-2023 Special Town Meeting. PFAS in Mass. Public Water Systems | Sierra Club "We are trying to manage them because they've been allowed, they've been commercialized, and allowed to come into our environment and on Cape Cod.". 10:56Resume August 08, 2022 The Environmental Protection Agency recently issued a new warning that no level of PFAS in water is safe. 06-21-2023 Special Town Meeting Results by Citizens' Petition The subgroups defined by the state DEPinclude pregnant or nursing women, infantsand people diagnosed by their health care provider to have a compromised immune system. PFAS have been linked to serious health problems such as cancer, hormone disruption, immune suppression, and reproductive problems. Maine has created a comprehensive framework for getting PFAS out of all products and for preventing contamination through PFAS-contaminated sewage sludge. PFAS | Needham, MA So far, the townhas spent half a million dollars on bottled water, testing and filters for affected homes. And we have some huge ticket items here in town, including a bridge. The Environmental Protection Agency currently does not regulatePFAS in drinking water, but is expected to announce draft regulations in March. Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that the . PFAS travel far distances: one recent study found 60 tons of PFAS in the Arctic Ocean. But the PFAS costs for Massachusetts communities may just be beginning. Littleton isn't the only town spending millions to clean up the chemicals. That means communities across the state that thought they were in the clear will suddenly have PFAS levels above the legal limit. This week, Wayland transitions to a rebate system, instead of supplying bottled water directly to residents concerned about PFAS. Key:Green = 0 ppt of PFAS6 reportedYellow = PFAS6 detected under state MCLRed = exceeds state MCL for PFAS6. Almost all have found ways to mitigate the PFAS contamination, either by adding filters, finding a new water supply, or blending the polluted water with another source. Clean up contamination. Toxic flame retardants are still commonly used in electronics and building insulation despite evidence of neurodevelopmental harm caused by these chemicals and questions about whether they provide true fire safety benefits. Because they have useful properties, companies have used them in thousands of products, from food packaging to waterproof jackets to firefighting foam. In Ayer, Public Works Superintendent Mark Wetzel said managing PFAS takes up a significant portion of his staff's time. PFAS or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a family of chemicals that have been used since the 1950s in the manufacture of common consumer products and used in some firefighting foams. To see more, visit WBUR. Develop plans for disposal of PFAS-containing waste, which may include storage of some waste until new technologies are developed. Massachusetts towns where 60% or more of residents are served by private wells. The total cost for Littleton's new plant, new pipeline and other PFAS-related expenses now stands at around $30 million, according to Lawler.