PFAS Treatment Update

The Chelmsford Water District is one of the latest communities tasked with building treatment facilities to address PFAS contamination that is beyond the limit deemed safe by the State. Testing conducted in Chelmsford in 2023 found PFAS levels exceeding MassDEP guidelines in one of the three treatment plants that serves District customers.  In January 2020, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection issued a revised guideline for PFAS in drinking water, setting the limit at 20 parts per trillion for the sum of six PFAS compounds.  The District is mandated to submit quarterly PFAS results to DEP. As of February 2024, the District has not “triggered” quarterly levels above the guideline since the 3^rd quarter of 2023.  Regardless, the District must move forward with a solution to provide water to their customers with PFAS levels below State guidelines.

PFAS have been used for decades in the manufacturing of non-stick cookware and other household items and in firefighting foam. These chemicals are water soluble and remain in the environment because they do not degrade over time, leaving communities grappling with a public health threat.

Cities and towns across the state, and across the country, are faced with the costly challenge of removing the “forever chemicals” (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) from public drinking water.

The District immediately started planning the remediation of PFAS at all treatment plants that serve their customers.  The District contracted with AECOM, a National engineering firm with a Chelmsford office, to design two treatment plants and a transmission line to remove PFAS for all our customers.  AECOM is currently at the 30% design phase and is working with the District to communicate plans to the Town of Chelmsford public officials and District residents.  AECOM also submitted, on behalf of the District, an application to the Massachusetts DEP 2024 Draft Intended Use Plan for Drinking Water Revolving Fund. The purpose of the DWSRF program is to assist Public Water Suppliers to implement the requirements of the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

The SRF funding is in the form of a 0% - 2% interest loan with the possibility of a portion of the loan being eligible for some principal forgiveness.   The District placed 2^nd in the State on the Draft Intended Use plan for 2024. 

The preliminary schedule developed by the District and our partner, AECOM, begins in January, 2022 and continues until project completion expected June, 2028.  See preliminary timeline attached.

At District meeting in April 2024, we will seek approval to accept assistance in the form of a loan in the amount of $43m from the above-mentioned program.