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Public commenter urges Northampton Board of Health to study PFAS from landfill leachate and sewage treatment
Summary
Paul Fenn of Local Power told the board in public comment that municipal handling of landfill leachate and sewage may be concentrating PFAS into wastewater effluent and contaminating the Connecticut River, and asked to present to the board on the issue.
During the public comment period Thursday, Paul Fenn of Local Power said his firm’s municipal sustainability work led it to examine PFAS (so‑called "forever chemicals") in landfill leachate and municipal sewage, and he asked the Northampton Board of Health to consider a presentation and further study.
Fenn described his company’s work on methane and municipal waste systems and said that, when staff reviewed EPA research and municipal practices, they found many municipalities route landfill leachate and legacy landfill waste through wastewater treatment plants. He said those treatment plants "do not remove, or in any way affect, beneficially affect PFAS concentrations," and that in some cases treated effluent may release PFAS compounds to rivers.
"We learned that basically every town and city in Western Mass is is doing this pretty much," Fenn said, and he added, "the Connecticut River is being, contaminated on a widespread basis." He asked the board if he could make a fuller presentation at a future meeting.
Board members responded with interest and asked staff to consider scheduling a presentation. No formal board action was taken during public comment; the item was registered as a request to present at a future meeting.
The comment referenced EPA research and municipal wastewater practice; Fenn also observed that state direction varies by jurisdiction and that some states are beginning regulatory work on PFAS in wastewater and leachate. The board did not provide a formal timeline for follow up at this meeting.
