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Town administrator says Millville Elementary water testing is back in compliance; bottled water requirement could be lifted mid‑September
Summary
At the July 8 Blackstone‑Millville School Committee meeting, Millville town administrator Peter Caruso said rolling‑average testing for disinfection byproducts is in compliance for the first two quarters of 2024 and that the bottled‑water requirement could be lifted if third‑quarter tests are also compliant, likely by mid‑September. The town has committed to supply bottled water through year‑end if requested while longer‑term PFAS planning continues.
Peter Caruso, town administrator for Millville, told the Blackstone‑Millville School Committee on July 8 that recent water testing for Millville Elementary School has returned to compliance after a spike in disinfection byproducts earlier this year.
Caruso said the January–March event followed an operational failure and a ‘‘jump start’’ with chlorine that produced a peak in disinfection‑byproduct measurements and triggered notices under MassDEP's rolling‑average compliance process. "We were all clear both on the averaging and therefore in compliance for the first 2 quarters now, so for all of calendar 24," Caruso said, noting the district and town have been monitoring chlorine and treatment system performance closely.
Why it matters: Millville has been operating under a requirement to provide bottled water because of earlier disinfection‑byproduct (DBP) results. Caruso told the committee the Millville board of selectmen voted to continue providing bottled water through the end of calendar 2024 and through the end of the school year, if requested, even if MassDEP lifts the formal requirement. He said the district will probably know third‑quarter results by mid‑September and that the selectmen have indicated they will lift the bottled‑water provision if tests are within compliance.
Caruso described the system and recent fixes: green‑sand filters that strip iron and manganese, chlorine dosing, UV disinfection, corrosion‑control pumps recently replaced, and remote monitoring for chlorine levels. He also explained operational tradeoffs that produced the earlier DBP peak. "If you have a big peak like we saw back in January, February, March, that can mess you up on compliance," he said.
On PFAS and longer‑term planning, Caruso warned the committee that forthcoming state standards will be more stringent. He said the town currently tests between roughly 8 and 12 parts per trillion for PFAS against a current MassDEP reference of 20 ppt, but noted the new regulation will be 4 ppt. The town is pursuing MassDEP engineering grant funding and weighing options including enhanced on‑site treatment or connecting to the Uxbridge waterline as part of a feasibility process.
Committee members asked operational questions about remote monitoring versus remote control, alarm procedures and who must respond when alarms occur. Caruso said remote monitoring is in place but MassDEP does not allow remote operation and that an on‑site operator must physically intervene when needed. Superintendent Jason DeFalco and committee members emphasized a shared goal of returning students to Millville Elementary once safety and compliance are assured.
What’s next: The town expects third‑quarter results and, if those are in compliance, could lift the bottled‑water requirement mid‑September; meanwhile the board of selectmen has committed to continuing bottled‑water supply through the end of 2024 if requested. The committee did not take formal action on the water item at this meeting.
