Danvers Officials Say Water Is Safe To Drink

DANVERS, MA -- Danvers officials said testing conducted in 2016 for polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, commonly known as PFAS, showed levels 30 percent and 7 percent of guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Last week, the Boston Globe named Danvers as one of seven towns in Massachusetts with PFAs in its drinking water system. While a press release issued by the town Monday did not dispute the article, it said that report was based on testing conducted in 2013 and 2014.

"The Town has always participated in voluntary testing of our water supply for unregulated substances and compounds identified by the MassDEP and the EPA, such as those referenced in recent news accounts," said Danvers Town Manager Steve Bartha. "Our water system is staffed by licensed professionals who conduct water quality testing multiple times every day across the system to ensure the water we provide to our residents is clean, safe, and in compliance with all state and federal guidelines."

The tests also found no evidence of PFAs at the water treatment plan, which produces the majority of the drinking water in Danvers. PFAs were found in the town's two wells, which act as reserve water supplies.

Related story: The town's drinking water tested positive for polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, commonly referred to as PFAS.

Because the chemicals never fully degrade, PFAS are known as "forever chemicals," the newspaper reported. The Department of Defense found high levels of the chemicals in 60 percent of the2,700 wells near military bases it has tested in the recent years. In most cases, the chemicals probably came from a fire fighting foam commonly used by the military.

The number of communities with high levels of PFAS is likely to rise, as nearly half of Massachusetts communities have yet to test for the chemicals. While state and federal regulators are trying to work out safety standards, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection is advising pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants, and other potentially vulnerable people to avoid drinking water where five of the more common chemicals are found in higher concentrations.

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