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
  • Embracing diversity
  • Charities/Community
  • Arts
  • Kids
  • Business Buzz
  • Environment
  • Top 10 things to do
  • The Swellesley Report
  • COVID-19
  • Beyond Natick
  • History
  • Government
  • Support independent journalism



Natick about to lift water ban, gives PFAS update

December 2, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Too late for your gardens, but get ready to fill those ice rinks, Natick.

Director of Public Works Jeremy Marsette told the Select Board on Wednesday that the town just needs to finish a bit of paperwork before lifting the nonessential water usage ban, which went into effect in May. No specific date was given other than “coming days.”

Though as one commenter asked: Oh, the ban was still a thing?

The ban, made through an emergency declaration, resulted from discovery of elevated levels of Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Natick’s drinking water. Natick turned off wells with elevated levels of these so-called “forever chemicals,” which come from weatherproofing, firefighter foam, and other products, and can have harmful effects on people and the environment over time. In order to maintain its water supply in light of the contamination situation, as well as general drought conditions, the town put the outdoor water use ban in place while cranking up wells at Elm Bank that usually are off-limits during spring and summer.

Marsette gave a general update on the town’s progress on addressing the PFAS situation as well.

The town has taken immediate measures to rid its water of elevated levels of the 6 PFAS compounds regulated at the entry points to its water distribution system, and that has gone well other than 1 recent monthly test that showed a slightly elevated level at one entry point. The state’s Department of Environmental Protection has put standards in place and regulated for them the past year.

The feds have not, but that’s likely coming in 2022, and makes the town’s planning a challenge.

“It’s breaking news …it’s somewhat in flux and has been very hard to plan for in that we don’t know if the U.S. EPA is going to set a limit that’s  lower than the current Massachusetts limit,” Marsette said.  “The current rumor is they will, which will certainly impact our ability to plan.”

Natick has been working many channels since getting its notice from the state earlier this year about the elevated PFAS levels to get funds to help it address the situation. This included a $140K grant from the state.

The town was supposed to submit a long-term corrective action plan by year-end, but is seeking an extension for a slew of reasons, including having a chance to get new carbon filters running at its Springvale water treatment facility on Rte. 9 east and seeing what federal regulations might emerge. The town also wants to see what sort of federal funds might become available through the American Rescue Plan Act and Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act.

springvale carbon filters

 

The filters, funded through a capital appropriation at Spring Town Meeting and emergency funding through the state, are designed to extract PFAS from 2 million gallons of water a day and allow the plant to pump out 4 million gallons of water by mixing in other clean water.

Natick hoped to have the filters online by the end of November, thanks in part to expedited permitting by the state, but now estimates the filters will be working by the end of the year or in early January. “Despite numerous supply chain issues, the project is generally on schedule,” Marsette said, noting one of the last pieces of the puzzle are 20-inch water gates made of iron that have been delayed.

As for alternate sources of water, Marsette said that Massachusetts Water Resources Authority has now provided a local emergency connection in Natick (under Rte. 30) to its supply. Natick has no plans to use this connection, but it’s a good safety net.

Meanwhile, the town continues its investigation into possible sources of its water contamination. It has done so with surface-level water but wants to dig deeper into groundwater. The Select Board approved a contract during the meeting for engineering services to do just that. Finding the sources could help the town pursue some cost recovery, Marsette said.


Natick Report ad

Filed Under: Environment, Government

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.



Tip us off!

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

Advertisements

Categories

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

Get our email newsletter

* indicates required

Most Read Posts

  • Our opening night visit to Natick's newest restaurant: 7 South Bottle + Kitchen
  • Dolphin successor 7 South Bottle + Kitchen opens this week in Natick Center
  • Add 1 more to list of things you can't do at Natick's Memorial track & field: Enter
  • Natick shares update on road improvements
  • Natick's Robert Dunn recognized with Myra Kraft Community MVP Award for volunteer efforts

Click image to read The Swellesley Report

The Swellesley Report

Events calendar

  1. Hungrytown outdoor summer folk concert

    June 28 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
  2. Fay School admission information session

    June 28 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
  3. Fay School admission information session

    July 19 @ 8:00 am - 9:00 am
  4. Fay School admission information session

    August 12 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

View All Events

Pages

  • Comment Policy
  • Natick Report corrections policy
  • Private Schools in Natick (and beyond)
  • Where to stay in Natick, Mass. (hotels, inns)
  • 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 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 2022, political candidates advertising
  • Natick election 2022—candidate interviews

© 2022 Natick Report
Site by Tech-Tamer · Login