Massachusetts has announced that $950,728 is being awarded to 12 public water suppliers through the Interim PFAS6 Response Grant Program to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their drinking water.
The funding will help offset the cost of initial responses implemented when “PFAS6” (the sum of six PFAS substances) exceeds the state standard of 20 parts-per-trillion (ppt). This was the second round of funding through the program, which is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).
“The safety of the Commonwealth’s drinking water remains a priority for our Administration, and when PFAS contaminate a local water supply, it must be addressed to ensure the public health is protected from its harmful effects,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Importantly, these grants will aid local communities and water systems to cover the costs to remediate PFAS contamination, ensuring residents have access to drinking water that is clean and safe to consume.”
“Water systems are continuously hard at work protecting critical water resources, and this funding will assist in their efforts in providing safe drinking water while plans for permanent treatment are underway,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “We will continue to support community efforts in providing safe, clean and healthy drinking water for all communities throughout Massachusetts.”
MassDEP has offered two rounds of funding through the Interim PFAS6 Response Grant Program. More than $1.2 million was awarded during the first round to address PFAS contamination. The second-round grants will reimburse for eligible costs to assist communities that have already expended funds to address elevated levels of PFAS6. Use of the funds by public water supply systems include:
- The purchasing and distribution of bottled water,
- The installation of water vending machines; and,
- The purchasing of water and/or the establishing of interconnections to alternative water sources or take any other immediate action to provide safe drinking water to PFAS6-impacted water users.
All of Massachusetts’s public water systems are required to test for PFAS6. If found above the state standard, water systems are required to eliminate or minimize the threat to public health by turning off a contaminated water source, connecting to a neighboring water supply, or taking other steps to ensure that clean drinking water is available to all system users.
The following public water supply systems have been awarded PFAS6 grants:
- Avon Department of Public Works – $33,600
The grant supports the replacement of an existing granular activated carbon filter with an alternative carbon media to remove PFAS in the water supply. - United Church of Christ, Boxborough – $428
The grant is a reimbursement for bottled water provided to the daycare and senior center located there. - Burlington Department of Public Works – $150,000
The grant supports the purchase of water from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to provide clean drinking water. - Chatham Water Department – $150,000
The grant supports the town’s effort to reactive a closed well to enable blending until a permanent solution to the local PFAS6 exceedance is in place. - Dudley Water Department – $150,000
The grant supports the town’s effort to reconfigure the water system to enable blending of the number 3 and number 6 wells until a permanent solution to PFAS6 is in place. - Hopkinton Water Department – $23,168
The grant is a reimbursement for engineering work completed on a temporary filtration system performed in response to a PFAS6 exceedance. - Hyannis Water System – $150,000
The grant is a reimbursement for the purchase and distribution of bottled water in response to a local PFAS6 exceedance. - Natick Department of Public Works Water Division – $150,000
The grant supports the purchase of temporary carbon vessels to remove PFAS6 exceedances. - Wellesley College – $10,000
The grant is a reimbursement for water purchased from the Town of Wellesley system in response to a PFAS6 exceedance. - Town of West Bridgewater – $7,890
The grant is a reimbursement for the installation of a customer tap and a granular activated carbon filter. - Wilmington Water Department – $99,696
The grant supports the replacement of an existing granular activated carbon filters with an alternative carbon media to remove PFAS6 contamination. - City of Woburn – $25,946
The grant is a reimbursement for the establishment of a water station and rebate program for bottled water in response to a local PFAS6 exceedance.
Conducting statewide testing of drinking water for PFAS is providing the data to support MassDEP’s strategy for treatment and mitigation of this emerging contaminant. In September 2020, the state announced the first round of grants to support design of PFAS treatment, awarding $1.9 million to 10 public water supply systems, and announced a second round in March 2021, awarding $3 million to 17 public water supply systems.
