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The Plan to Remove PFAS: The Chelmsford Water District is committed to providing safe, reliable water to our 29,000 consumers.To continue to meet that commitment, we need to address the presence of PFAS, a family of chemical compounds, in our water sources.Our water meets State and Federal drinking water standards. It is safe to drink. However, testing shows the presence of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the water leaving our three treatment plants. The levels are below the state’s allowable limit, but high enough to warrant action. The Chelmsford Water Commissioners have directed the CWD staff to develop plans to remove PFAS from the water delivered to all our consumers. The goal is to reduce levels to undetectable by current testing methods. The Annual District Meeting on April 26 will be asked to authorize $1.5 million for design engineering fees for two water treatment plants to remove PFAS. The Board of Water Commissioners unanimously supports the request and asks voters to vote in favor of the funding. 

Removing PFAS Protects Public Health: Monthly testing of CWD wells (click to see full history of the test results) shows PFAS levels currently below the State’s Maximum Contaminant Level. In the third quarter of 2021, the Crooked Spring Water Treatment Plant exceeded the MCL, but the level returned to below the MCL in the fourth quarter. The Q3 2021 MCL violation prompted the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection,which regulates all public water suppliers, to require CWD to develop a plan to reduce the PFAS levels.

What is PFAS? PFAS is a manmade pollutant used for a wide range of industrial purposes and consumer products. It is sometimes referred to as the “forever chemical” because it is resistant to breaking down in the environment. We have published lots of resources about PFAS, its origins and potential health impacts under the PFAS tab (click to go to PFAS tab).

Will Levels Increase? The source of PFAS in CWD wells is undetermined. The area immediately surrounding CWD wells (known as Zone 1) are protected from pollution, but PFAS has been shown to migrate in groundwater. As earlier testing has shown, the PFAS levels can rise and fall outside of our control. Also, it is possible Federal and State regulators could lower the maximum contaminant levels for PFAS. That means a test that passes today could fail in the future.

Planning Stage:  Pursuing a PFAS removal plan now will mean we are moving to protect the public health as quickly and feasibly as possible. It allows CWD to meet future uncertainty regarding PFAS levels, and to avoid the inevitable increase in future construction costs if PFAS removal is not pursued as soon as possible. Working with AECOM Environmental Services, located in Chelmsford, we have conducted pilot studies and testing to determine the most effective and cost-efficient solution to removing PFAS. The next step is to direct AECOM to develop the plan and designs to construct two water treatment plants to remove PFAS from all the water initially produced by the three water treatment plants–Crooked Springs, Smith Street and Riveneck which currently only treat for Iron, Manganese, Disinfection and Corrosion Control. CWD will ask the Annual District Meeting voters to approve $1.5 million for the design costs. The Board of Water Commissioners recommends the approval of the funding. The Annual District Meeting is scheduled for April 26, 2023, at 7 p.m. Design engineering the PFAS removal plants and system will require about one year. In 2024, the Annual District Meeting will be presented with the design and project cost estimates and asked if it approves borrowing to pay for the cost of construction. The total cost of construction is not known at this time.

The Best PFAS Removal Method: Pilot testing and desk-top testing methods have already narrowed the choices for PFAS removal technologies. AECOM recommends, and CWD staff agrees, the plan would be to construct two treatment plants with granular activated carbon filters. In addition, it is possible resin filters may be used as a secondary filter (sometimes referred to as polishing).

Pursuing Revenue Sources: CWD and its consumers are not responsible for the PFAS pollution. And we are not alone. In Massachusetts, a reported 170 other communities face PFAS pollution. CWD is seeking State and Federal funding and is a plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit against the manufacturers of PFAS seeking financial damages. However, there is no guarantee these efforts will be successful, or how much money will be received and when. In short, the removal of PFAS cannot wait on the conclusion of these efforts.

Impact on Water Rates: Until we know the cost of constructing the treatment plants, we cannot provide an estimate on the impact on water rates. We know the cost of water will increase. Even with an increase, we urge consumers to look at the importance of water or its value to the community (The Value of Water). It is essential for public health, safety, the local economy and quality of life. We will work to control costs as much as possible and pursue additional sources of funding.The cost of delivering clean, reliable water will increase as new contaminants and regulations emerge.