Town updates PFAS testing and response: foam advisories, landfill findings and sewer focus

Summary

Health and environmental staff reported expanded PFAS sampling across the island, high PFAS concentrations in foam at some beaches (prompting a foam advisory), evidence of PFAS migration from the landfill toward Long Pond, and wastewater analyses showing landfill leachate contributes the largest PFAS load into the wastewater treatment facility.

Town health and environmental staff presented a multi-part update on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), describing sampling results, ongoing investigations and next steps for mitigation and public outreach.

Environmental contamination administrator Andrew Shapiro told the Select Board the town has spent more than $7.6 million across 27 PFAS-related contracts to date and has combined testing results from MassDEP’s island-wide source discovery and town sampling. He said MassDEP has sampled more than 100 properties and the town has coordinated testing that, together, accounts for over 400 properties sampled islandwide. MassDEP guidance was cited that residents should test private wells at least every 10 years and that people living within 1–2 miles of a known detection should consider testing.

Surface-water and beach sampling: Town staff conducted paired…

Town updates PFAS testing and response: foam advisories, landfill findings and sewer focus

Summary

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