PFAS Tier 2 Public Notice

There is a full copy of the MassDEP approved Public Notice (PN) of the Tier 2 violation of the PFAS6 MCL attached to this posting. 

This PN is being mailed out to every water taker of the Chelmsford Water District within the next week but no later than December 10, 2021.

This is because water tested from the Crooked Spring Water Treatment Plant had a quarterly average above the 20 ppt limit for the Third Quarter of 2021, at 21 ppt.

Key points are:  

1. 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 ng/L.

2. If you are not in a sensitive subgroup, you may continue to consume the water because 20 ng/L value is applicable to a lifetime consuming the water and shorter duration exposures present less risk. 

What is being done?

The Chelmsford Water District has taken the following pro-active measures:

• Chelmsford Water District’s other entry points, Riverneck Road and Smith Street Water Treatment Plants were sampled, and those sources did not contain PFAS6 above 20 ng/L.
• We will continue to sample our water sources for PFAS.
• The Chelmsford Water District received a MassDEP Planning and Design of PFAS Treatment system Grant in the amount of $250,000 for a pilot study at the Crooked Spring Water Treatment Plant (WTP). The pilot study investigates PFAS6 treatment options and it is almost completed. Once completed, recommendations will be made for the best treatment option(s) for PFAS removal at the Crooked Spring WTP.
• The Chelmsford Water District has submitted a proposal to MassDEP on November 12^th to install a water bottle fill station for residents in the sensitive subgroup to obtain water that is in compliance with the PFAS MCL at the Riverneck Water Treatment Plant.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact Todd Melanson, Environemntal Compliance Manager: tmelanson@chelmsfordwater.com and refer to the PFAS resources on this website.