What is Burlington doing about PFAS water contamination?
Burlington residents will soon receive a mailing from the town Department of Public Works regarding the presence of PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, recently found in town water at levels above the state drinking water standard. This is not an emergency, DPW director John Sanchez explained to Selectmen at their June 14 meeting. Thats why there was no reverse 911 call to residents.  Last month Sanchez announced newly required state tests revealed the presence of PFAS, manmade chemicals found in firefighting foams, Teflon cookware coating, aluminum foil, pizza boxes and other products. Manufacturing of certain PFAS was discontinued in the U.S. about 30 years ago, but they may still be used in imported products. More:Water tests show presence of "forever chemical" in town's supply  It is in everything, Sanchez said. Once it is in the environment, it does not degrade easily. Once it is in the water, it goes into the sewer, and finds its way into ground water and streams.  Because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency does not yet regulate PFAS, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection set its own standard last fall for six PFAS compounds at 20 parts per trillion and required cities and towns to test for the chemicals. Recent testing of the Vinebrook and Mill Pond treatment plants detected PFAS at levels of approximately 40 parts per trillion this spring. Because water treatment is a heavily regulated industry, Sanchez said the state needed to approve the informational mailing before it was sent to residents. We cant act on our own, he said. There are scientific studies that suggest potential links between exposure to certain PFAS in the environment and health effects. The studies have looked at the effects on the development of fetuses and infants, the thyroid, the liver, kidneys, hormone levels and the immune system, as well as if a cancer risk exists for people exposed to levels well above the drinking water standard. Sanchez said while the towns water is safe for bathing, certain sensitive subgroups, including those who are pregnant or nursing, infants and those with compromised immune systems, should not consume the town water. Those who choose to use bottled water, should check the state DEP website for companies that test for PFAS, he said. Boiling water does not remove PFAS, he stated. For older children and adults who do not fall into the sub groups, there is little to no risk in the short term. Sanchez said he does not recommend installing a home water treatment system. I am not recommending people do that because of our aggressive plan. It is a large expense that might not give a return, but people are free to do what they want in their homes, he said. Sanchez said the town has opened the connection to the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority through Lexington and is currently taking one million gallons of drinking water per day. The town is operating the Mill Pond facility as the primary plant and is limiting production from the Vine Brook facility. Additionally, the DPW is constructing a water main to connect to the MWRA so that it can abandon the Vine Brook water treatment plant. He said he believes the town will have a treatment plant in place by the end of next year. More:Burlington moves forward on MWRA application  MWRA water, sourced at the Quabbin Reservoir, does not contain PFAS, he said. Sanchez said the DPW will continue to test the towns water monthly, and the DPW is working with consultants to design and install filters to remove PFAS and produce safe drinking water from the Mill Pond facility. Another round of informational mailings will be sent to residents in the next month with updated information about the towns compliance with the DEP and the towns short and long term plans for its drinking water.