Wayland PFAS Filters Close To Coming Online

WAYLAND, MA — A new water filter system designed to scrub harmful PFAS chemicals from a main Wayland water supply should be online soon, town officials said this week.

The town has been working for months to install a resin-based PFAS filter at the Happy Hollow well field. Water from the wells, located near Wayland High School, have consistently tested above the state limit for PFAS chemicals ever since testing began in January 2021.

Officials from the state Department of Environmental Protection visited the filter system last week to make a final inspection before the system can be turned on for wider public use.

Once running, it will take some time before the town can accurately measure how much the filters have reduced PFAS contamination from the Happy Hollow wells. However, the last three tests at the well site — with samples from Dec. 2, Jan. 4 and Feb. 2 — have shown PFAS levels below the state threshold of 20 nanograms per liter (ng/l). The average of the two most recent tests was 13.95 ng/l, compared to 25.10 ng/l for the three tests taken in December, November and October.

PFAS are a group of chemicals that have been used widely in industrial and home uses, including in everything from nonstick pans and Gore Tex jackets to protective gear for firefighters. The chemicals also don't break down easily in the environment.