LYNNFIELD — The Lynnfield Center Water District expects to begin its short-term per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) water treatment project by Sept. 1.
LCWD Superintendent John Scenna made the announcement at LCWD’s most recent meeting.
Revised drinking water regulations were implemented by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection in October 2021 that call for a maximum level of PFAS6 of 20 parts per trillion. LCWD began testing levels last fall and led to a discovery that levels at Station 2 on Main Street exceeded the maximum level.
Ratepayers approved a transfer of $587,050 from retained earnings at a March Special Meeting to fund a short-term program and plan for a long-term solution.
The short-term program calls for the installation of new pipes and valves at the station. Two AVANTech vessels will be installed and used to treat the PFAS6. One vessel will contain granular activated carbon and the other will contain an ionic exchange resin.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency website, PFAS are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s because of their useful properties. There are thousands of different PFAS, some of which have been more widely used and studied than others.
Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS), for example, are two of the most widely used and studied chemicals in the PFAS group. PFOA and PFOS have been replaced in the United States with other PFAS in recent years.
One common characteristic of concern of PFAS is that many break down very slowly and can build up in people, animals, and the environment over time, often resulting in PFAS being called “forever chemicals.”
Because of their widespread use and their persistence in the environment, many PFAS are found in the blood of people and animals all over the world and are present at low levels in a variety of food products and in the environment. Some grease-resistant paper, fast food containers/wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, pizza boxes, and candy wrappers contain PFAS, which is also found in stain resistant coatings used on carpets, upholstery, water resistant clothing and other fabrics as well as cleaning products and personal care products (shampoo, dental floss) and cosmetics (nail polish, eye makeup).
PFAS are found in water, air, fish, and soil at locations across the nation and the globe.
Scientific studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals.
There are thousands of PFAS chemicals, and they are found in many different consumer, commercial, and industrial products. The EPA says that makes it challenging to study and assess the potential human health and environmental risks.
Anne Marie Tobin can be reached at [email protected].
