WESTFIELD (9/28/2020)
This past week the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection announced stricter regulations regarding PFAS levels in public drinking water, and awarded a $200,000 grant to the Westfield Public Water System to support their efforts in addressing PFAS contamination.
The new drinking water standard for PFAS establishes a limit of 20 parts per trillion (ppt) for the sum of six PFAS compounds, called “PFAS6.” This new level of 20 ppt provides a much higher degree of protection compared to the previous guidance of 70 ppt, particularly for sensitive subgroups including pregnant women, nursing mothers and infants. The regulations also require that public water suppliers begin quarterly testing for PFAS in 2021, and mandates that they must act when there is a detection above the limit. There are currently no federal PFAS standards for drinking water, and very few state regulations as well.
“The long term health consequences of PFAS are abundantly clear, and these new regulations and funding are a critical step towards protecting our communities and our health from long-lasting dangers,” said Senator John Velis. “It is completely unfair that we have been forced to bear this public health and financial burden when we had nothing to do with it. During my time in the legislature, I have fought for funds wherever I can to ensure that Westfield residents are not penalized for trying to do the right thing and fixing their drinking water.”
City Councilor Kristen Mello, who has worked with community members to bring attention to PFAS levels in Westfield, stressed the importance of these regulations and noted how much work Senator Velis and others have put in for this to happen.
“We are proud to take our place among the states who have placed legally enforceable limits on PFAS in drinking water in the absence of federal action. Finalizing this Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for six PFAS in drinking water is another vital step forward in reducing toxic PFAS exposure to residents of our communities ,” said Councilor Mello. “Residents from Westfield and other affected communities are grateful that, from our first meeting with MA DEP asking for a PFAS MCL in April 2018 to the last hearing for public comment in 2020, Senator John Velis has been there with us advocating for our communities every step of the way.”
“This is really the culmination of years of work, and years of advocacy from constituents and residents,” said Senator Velis. “We have worked so hard to bring our concerns to the State and to make sure that Westfield is not forgotten about when it comes to PFAS. I’m just relieved that action like this is finally taking place.”
The $200,000 grant awarded to the Westfield Public Water System will provide funding for planning, studies, pump tests, and engineering to support their efforts to address PFAS contamination and to design a system to eliminate it in their drinking water. Nine other municipalities in the State that have high PFAS levels were also selected for grants.
When asked about the grant, Councilor Melo said that it will help to ease the financial stress of dealing with PFAS, “Addressing the local need for assistance in testing and treatment for these “forever chemicals” helps to ensure those of us bearing the burden of PFAS exposure are not facing additional financial burden from the regulation intended to decrease that exposure.”
“The grant provided to Westfield is so important because it will allow us to continue working towards our ultimate goal of removing PFAS from our water systems completely,” said Senator Velis. “There’s still much more to be done, but these are tangible accomplishments, and I’m grateful for all of the Westfield community members who have worked alongside me.”