Limerick officials report TCE and PCE contamination at multiple sites; town to install filtration systems

Select Board code enforcement officer Stan Hacket told the Limerick board on March 2 that tests have identified TCE (trichloroethylene) and PCE (perchloroethylene) contamination at multiple properties, including a recently tested concrete plant, and that the town is narrowing the affected area as further sampling continues.

"We currently have three known properties with TCE. Today I also found out that the concrete plant was also determined to have TCE," Hacket said, adding that results from some properties on Lucer Lane and 216 Central were negative as the investigation proceeds. He said the town's testing does not yet include the broader business park where contamination was initially suspected.

The town plans to offer household filtration systems for affected wells. Hacket said one system quoted for 225 Central Avenue, which also tested for radon, is about $7,200 and is designed to address both volatile organic compounds and the radon reading the town reported for that property. He said the town expects quarterly monitoring and that filter cartridges will likely need replacement in roughly three to five years, at an estimated replacement cost of about $350 to $400.

Hacket characterized the town's likely reimbursement pathway this way: if the town installs the systems, it expects to recover about 90% through landfill-reimbursement mechanisms; if state agencies install them, the town's share would be larger. "We get 90% reimbursement from the landfill reimbursement fill. If we allowed the state or D to install the systems, the town would pay a higher price at 100%," he said.

Hacket urged patience and described steps the town is taking to document and trace contamination pathways: his office is working with state environmental staff to place transponders in wells to trace underground water flow and to overlay historical aerial photos on modern maps to identify changes in land use and potential sources.

He also said he has requested a public meeting with state and federal agencies so residents can question experts directly. "I requested D and the EPA and CDC for a meeting in March. More realistically, it's going to be somewhere in the first two weeks of April," Hacket said, adding that he is pushing for a weekend session so more residents can attend.

Hacket said he has reached out to federal representatives for technical and funding help. He reported contact with Senator King's office and Representative Pingu's office; Representative Pingu provided information about applying for CPF funding but Hacket cautioned that, at best, funding would be available in 2027.

Why this matters: TCE and PCE are volatile organic compounds historically used in degreasing, dry-cleaning and industrial processes. Hacket said the Environmental Protection Agency prohibited their use in December 2025 and that federal, state and public-health agencies are expected to guide long-term remediation and health protections.

What's next: The select board authorized follow-up work; Hacket said the town is scheduling further tests on nearby wells, pursuing transponder-based groundwater tracing and seeking an interagency public meeting in early April. Residents with concerns were directed to await the announced meeting and to contact the town for updates.

The report did not include any determination that the town or a specific facility is legally liable for cleanup; Hacket said the Superfund process, if relevant, is likely years away.