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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 surface-water and foam sampling at monitored bathing beaches during two summer sampling rounds. Surface water at the monitored bathing beaches met Massachusetts Department of Public Health screening levels for bathing waters; however, foam collected at two beaches contained very high PFAS concentrations. The town issued a public foam advisory recommending avoidance of skin contact with foam and will present full results at an upcoming community meeting.
Landfill and soils: The town briefed the board on two landfill investigations. A MassDEP/CDM Smith groundwater investigation found elevated PFAS concentrations down gradient of the landfill with some sample locations showing concentrations above 1,000 parts per trillion (ppt) and PFAS detections in nearby surface-water sampling; Long Pond sampling exceeded the state groundwater standard for PFAS-6 (20 ppt). A separate consultant investigation (Sanborn Head) sampled reclaimed-soil stockpiles and found PFAS concentrations above Massachusetts S1/GW-1 soil standards at those stockpiles, raising questions about reuse of those soils for landfill capping.
Wastewater treatment: Town sampling showed the majority (59%) of PFAS mass entering the wastewater treatment facility is from landfill leachate, with sewer network flows and septic systems comprising the remainder. Staff described pilot planning for foam fractionation to concentrate PFAS from landfill leachate and reduce the volume requiring treatment; they also discussed ion-exchange treatment planned for impacted public wells.
Public-water systems and wells: The board was told Well 15 remains offline and the manifolded supply (Wells 12/15/16) has produced nondetect results for monthly checks at the combined sampling point. Treatment of impacted wells with ion-exchange technology is planned; staff estimated the treatment project cost at about $4,000,000 and said startup timing remains contingent on pump repairs and operational constraints.
Next steps: Staff urged continued private-well testing, announced two planned public events with PFAS experts in November and December to discuss exposure and health effects, and said the health department will pursue community exposure assessments (septic, stormwater, soils) and increased outreach. The board requested the town post results and meeting notices on its website and continue to coordinate with MassDEP and the Board of Health.
Why it matters: PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to health risks; island testing indicates PFAS detections are widespread and have infrastructure and public‑health implications for wells, wastewater operations, landfill management and coastal recreation.
