New Federal Drinking Water Standard for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

WAYLAND, MA - The Wayland Water Department has been closely monitoring a family of chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that have been detected in some public water supplies in Massachusetts and across the nation. PFAS were widely used in manufacturing, many consumer products, and firefighting foam. When discarded, PFAS has leached from these products and into water sources. The presence of PFAS is the result of pollution and not any action taken by our water system.

Massachusetts passed a drinking water standard for PFAS in October of 2020 which applies only to Public Water Systems (PWS) in Massachusetts. On Wednesday, April 10, 2024 the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that they have finalized a new federal National Primary Drinking Water Rule for PFAS, which will apply to PWS across the country. EPA’s Maximum Contaminant Levels for PFAS compounds, PFOA and PFOS, at 4 parts per trillion (ppt), and PFNA, PFHxS, and GenX Chemicals at 10 ppt. Currently, Massachusetts Maximum Containment Level is 20 ppt for the sum for six PFAS compounds, which is referred to as PFAS6.

In Massachusetts, the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) administers the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. MassDEP has to be at least as stringent with their standard as EPA and will have up to two years to adopt the new lower standard to comply with EPA’s primacy requirements. MassDEP indicated they will convene a stakeholder group to advise them on adoption of new standards (MassDEP could choose to be more stringent than EPA or could act more quickly to adopt the standards than EPA allows). We expect to learn more about MassDEP’s process in the coming weeks.

Now that a federal standard has been adopted, what does this mean for Wayland’s water system?

Beginning in February of 2021, the Town of Wayland has been working to develop and implement the most effective treatment process to address elevated levels of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS6) in the Town's public water supply. The Town was pleased to announce in June 2022 the PFAS6 Treatment System was operating as designed and resulting in non-detect levels of PFAS being distributed at the Happy Hollow Wellfield. This drinking water from the Happy Hollow Wellfield is blended with the Town's three other water supply wellfields to yield a combined PFAS level well below the MassDEP 20 ppt maxiumum containment level. 

While we are in compliance with MassDEP’s current standard, if MassDEP adopts EPA’s new standard, then we would have to work to bring the levels in our finished water down to below the 4 ppt level. The Town is currently working on a permanent connection to the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority which would bring us in compliance when the new standard takes effect in Massachusetts.

The research and understanding into potential health impacts of PFAS continues to evolve. When a water source contains PFAS above the Massachusetts standard, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection recommends consumers in a sensitive subgroup (pregnant or nursing women, infants and people diagnosed by their health care provider to have a compromised immune system), are advised not to consume, drink, or cook with water when the level of PFAS6 is above 20 ppt. As our scientific understanding evolves, further guidance may be issued. Consumers concerned about potential health effects of PFAS should consult a medical professional.

For more detailed information on this issue, please visit www.wayland.ma.us/pfas or contact the Wayland Water Division at 508-358-3672.

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