entering natick sign

entering natick sign

Natick Report

More than you really want to know about Natick, Mass.

  • Subscribe to daily email
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Eat
  • Schools
  • Summer Camp
  • Letters to the editor
  • Guidelines for letters to the editor
  • Redhawks sports schedule & results
  • Embracing diversity
  • Charities/Community
  • Arts
  • Events
  • Kids
  • Business
  • Environment
  • Top 10 things to do
  • The Swellesley Report
  • Beyond Natick
  • History
  • Government
  • Seniors
  • Support independent journalism
  • Natick Nest articles
  • Fire & police scanner
  • Town Election 2023


For those of you in Natick who just can’t get enough PFAS

May 29, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Who says PFAS in the water is a dry subject? The Natick Department of Public Works and friends this past week dove deep into the matter of elevated levels of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the town’s drinking water (see embedded video via Natick Pegasus).

The topic has become prominent in town due to safety concerns and now a ban on non-essential outdoor water use.

Natick has gotten out in front on this issue—it isn’t shy about reminding you just how proactive it is. The reason Natick got into this early is because it was following its well replacement program last year and was required to test for PFAS. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection put in place tough standards in October of last year that included requiring communities on a rolling basis to start testing for PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals” because they stick around in the earth and your bodies…pretty much forever.

DPW Director Jeremy Marsette has pointed out that Natick’s water isn’t necessarily getting worse, but testing has become better over time at detecting PFAS.

The PFAS forum includes overviews of the toxic chemical situation, but also a good summary of how the heck water gets around Natick and into your home or business in the first place. Marsette also outlined the many fronts, from operational moves to capital investments, the town is working on to address the PFAS issue.

One good thing about Natick realizing its elevated levels early is that it’s toward the front of the line in ordering carbon filters designed to clean up water. The demand for these is rising, and will only increase as more communities are required to test and find out they’re dealing with unwanted levels of PFAS, too. Natick hopes to have its filters in place by the fall.

In the meantime, Natick has been increasing its use of water with appropriate PFAS levels from wells at Elm Bank it usually doesn’t use at this time of year. One downside of using this source, however, is that there are more restrictions tied to doing so, and thus the non-essential use ban.

The town and state don’t know yet what the source of PFAS might be in Natick, and are initially more focused on getting treatment systems in place. Once that’s sorted out, investigations will begin to discover possible sources. “That is very much an active, ongoing effort,” Marsette assured.

Ask about Advertising on Natick Report.


Subscribe to our Natick Report daily email

Filed Under: Environment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Advertisements





Tip us off!

Please send news tips, photos, ideas to natickreport@gmail.com

If you’d like to contribute $ to support our independent journalism venture, please do….

Advertisements

Categories

  • Animals
  • Art
  • Bacon Free Library
  • Beyond Natick
  • Books
  • Boston Marathon
  • Business
  • Camps
  • Charity/Fundraising
  • Charles River dam
  • Community
  • Construction
  • COVID-19
  • Education
  • Election
  • Embracing diversity
  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Fashion
  • Firefighters
  • Food
  • Gardens
  • Government
  • Health
  • History
  • Holidays
  • Kids
  • Letters to the editor
  • Media
  • Military
  • Morse Institute Library
  • Music
  • Natick Election 2022
  • Natick Historical Society
  • Natick History Museum
  • Natick Nest
  • Natick track
  • Neighbors
  • Obituaries & remembrances
  • Opinion
  • Outdoors
  • Parents
  • Police & crime
  • Real estate
  • Recycling Center
  • Religion
  • Restaurants
  • Schools
  • Seniors
  • Shopping
  • Sports
  • Technology
  • Theater
  • Town election 2021
  • Town Election 2023
  • Transportation
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Vacation
  • Veterans
  • Volunteering
  • Voting
  • Weather
lion publishers
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Get our email newsletter

* indicates required
Our newsletter is free, though we gladly accept contributions to support our work.

Most Read Posts

  • '60 Minutes' segment on Natick couple's harassment by eBay execs airing Sunday, March 26
  • One high school student’s push to save Natick ballroom hidden in plain sight
  • Natick business buzz: Mr. Nice Dog coming to Rte. 9; Dairy Queen is back; The Hive readies to reveal
  • Sign up now for summer camp in Natick (and beyond)
  • Natick's Wilson Middle school enriched with cafeteria composting program

Click image to read The Swellesley Report

The Swellesley Report

Upcoming Events

Apr 1
11:30 am - 1:30 pm

Fair in the Square, Wellesley

Apr 11
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Online meeting to address flooding in Natick

Apr 29
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Metrowest Rocks concert to benefit Actor’s Company of Natick

May 20
10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Supercar show

View Calendar

Pages

  • Letters to the editor on Natick Report
  • Guidelines for Natick Report letters to the editor
  • Natick election 2023—guidelines for promoting candidates and ballot questions
  • Natick’s 2023 Boston Marathon charity runners
  • Natick, Massachusetts libraries
  • Comment Policy
  • Bacon Free Library in Natick, hours for winter 2023
  • Morse Institute Library in Natick—hours for winter 2023
  • Resources for seniors in Natick, Mass.
  • Natick Report corrections policy
  • Scenic Roads in Natick
  • Where to stay in Natick, Mass. (hotels, inns)
  • Private Schools in Natick (and beyond)
  • Natick Summer Camps (and beyond)
  • Where to eat in Natick, Mass: more that 70 dining options
  • Natick, Mass., history
  • Natick government
  • Natick No-Nos
  • Embracing diversity in Natick
  • Where to worship in Natick
  • Kid stuff (sports, clubs, activities in Natick, Mass.)
  • Contribute to Natick Report
  • Natick Little Free Libraries
  • Natick public schools
  • Where to sled in Natick, Mass.
  • Natick COVID-19 & vaccine news
  • Natick’s zip code & post offices
  • Natick charitable and community action groups
  • Top 10 things to do in Natick, Mass.
  • Natick Arts/Entertainment
  • About Natick Report
  • Advertise on Natick Report
  • Natick rules: Chickens yes, roosters no
  • Natick Election 2023, political candidates advertising
  • Natick election 2022—candidate interviews

© 2023 Natick Report
Site by Tech-Tamer · Login