Wayland Sets January Target For PFAS Compliance

WAYLAND, MA — Wayland hopes to bring levels of PFAS chemicals in town water below state thresholds by January, the town said in an update on Tuesday.

Wayland's Happy Hollow well field has continuously tested above the state threshold for PFAS chemicals since early in 2021. In the spring, Town Meeting approved a plan to build a treatment system near the well to scrub contaminates from the water — similar to what Natick has done.

"By Dec. 17, the town expects to have taken delivery of the treatment vessels, and will begin finalizing the connections needed for system start-up. The town anticipates full system connection and implementation by mid-January and full MassDEP compliance for PFAS6 levels across all wells as early as late January," the town said in a bulletin this week.

The town still has not discovered the root of the PFAS contamination at the Happy Hollow site.

The treatment system at Happy Hollow is only a short-term solution. Wayland is also examining whether to connect to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) system. The MWRA has no detectable levels of PFAS, according to the system.

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.

"Studies indicate that exposure to sufficiently elevated levels of certain PFAS may cause a variety of health effects including developmental effects in fetuses and infants, effects on the thyroid, liver, kidneys, certain hormones and the immune system," the state Department of Environmental Protection said. "Some studies suggest a cancer risk may also exist in people exposed to higher levels of some PFAS."