Two Barnstable Water Districts Awarded Grants to Support PFAS Response Efforts at Public Water Systems

Barnstable Fire Department Water District – $150,000
The grant will support an interconnection with the Yarmouth water supply for the villages of Barnstable and Cummaquid.

COMM Water Department – $200,000
The grant will support the installation of temporary ion exchange vessels serving the communities of Centerville, Osterville, and Marstons Mills.

The Baker-Polito Administration announced the award of $1,281,450 to 12 public water suppliers to support immediate efforts to address elevated levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their drinking water. The funding, which will help offset the cost of initial responses implemented when “PFAS6” (the sum of six PFAS substances) exceeds the state standard of 20 parts-per-trillion (ppt), has been awarded to water suppliers in Abington and Rockland, Barnstable, Centerville, Osterville and Marstons Mills, Easton, Holbrook, Ipswich, North Attleborough, Pepperell, Randolph, Sharon, Wellesley, and Wayland. The grant program, which is the first round of funding for this work, is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).

“PFAS is an emerging contaminant of national concern that is known to have widespread health effects,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “These grants will provide critical funds needed to assist communities with the emergency and interim measures that must be taken to ensure their residents have drinking water that is safe, clean, and healthy to consume and use.”

“PFAS contamination presents a significant risk to public health, and this important funding will aid public water suppliers to quickly respond to the discovery of PFAS contamination in their drinking water supply,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Our administration is proud to partner with local communities to help protect the health of their residents and the safety of the local drinking water supply.”