Town Drinking Water To Be Tested For Contaminants

Source:amherstma.gov

The Town of Amherst Water Department will be sampling the Town’s drinking water sources for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in April, 2021. This sampling is mandatory under new state regulations will establish baseline measurements for six PFAS compounds.

PFAS compounds are a group of human-made chemicals that have been widely used since the 1950s in such products as water-resistant clothing, stain-resistant furniture and carpets, adhesives, non-stick cookware, paints and varnishes, and firefighting foam. PFAS are nicknamed “forever chemicals” because many of them resist breaking down in the environment, and, thus, can accumulate in the tissues of organisms, including humans. Exposure to PFAS compounds has been linked to a number of health issues including specific types of cancer. 

The Town’s drinking water sources were sampled for some PFAS compounds in 2013 as part of a federal “emerging contaminant” sampling program. That sampling did not identify any PFAS concerns in Amherst’s drinking water. In addition, Amherst’s drinking water sources draw from relatively pristine watersheds that have not historically been impacted by industrial uses associated with PFAS contamination, such as military bases, chemical plants, manufacturing plants in general, firefighting training facilities, and airports. The Water Department says there is no need to be concerned about the quality of Amherst’s drinking water in regard to PFAS.

If you are a private well owner in Amherst, the Town recommends that you read through the information on the state’s PFAS website.

If PFAS is detected in Amherst’s drinking water above the state’s maximum contaminant level, the public will be notified within 30 days. All PFAS sampling results, whether above or below the maximum contaminant level, will be reported to Amherst residents in the Town’s Annual Water Quality Report. 

Additional information on PFAS health risks, and the work being done in Massachusetts to identify PFAS contamination is available here. Questions regarding PFAS and Amherst’s drinking water can be directed to the Amherst Department of Public Works at 413-259-3050 or publicworks@amherstma.gov