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Health department posts PFAS data to property files; staff urges more sampling and outreach
Summary
Health department staff updated the board on PFAS sampling, said property-file PFAS results are now posted following a public-records request and MassDEP disclosures, and reported a new high (50 ng/L) west of town. Staff said more targeted sampling, public education and clinician resources are needed.
Nantucket’s health department reported March 20 that PFAS sampling data have been uploaded to property files and that the department will continue targeted sampling, public outreach and work with MassDEP on ongoing investigations.
The health department speaker said the office initially hesitated to post unredacted well results after guidance from MassDEP and privacy concerns but moved to upload results after learning MassDEP had made more than 100 unredacted sampling reports publicly available and after the department received a public-records determination instructing it to provide requested data.
Staff reported several MassDEP sampling actions on the island in late February, including nondetect results for the geothermal well at the fairgrounds and four samples west of town where three were nondetect and one returned 3.65 ng/L. Separately, the department noted a new private-well result in its dataset showing about 50 ng/L (50 nanograms per liter) west of town — the highest value the department has in its compiled dataset to date.
The department analyst said roughly 30% of wells in the office’s compiled dataset have detectable PFAS levels (detects below and above 20 ng/L are included) and emphasized that PFOA and PFOS have no known safe exposure level. Staff described plans to visualize MCP-site (Massachusetts Contingency Plan) sampling locations alongside private-well results, to consider additional surface-water sampling, to prepare educational resources for clinicians and residents, and to promote the town’s private-well sampling/regulation outreach with realtors.
On treatment and infrastructure, the department said preparations continue for installing treatment at WEL‑15 (and related wells) and that the town remains on schedule for installing a treatment system before summer peak demand. The Board did not take action on enforcement or new regulations at the meeting but asked staff to continue monthly updates and community outreach.
Staff also told the board they will work on community education about exposure reduction, compile treatment and vendor guidance for results below 20 ng/L, and consider a public meeting to explain treatment, remediation steps and clinical resources.
The board encouraged the department to keep the community informed about new detections and MassDEP’s sampling plans.
