How will Hopkinton reduce PFAS in drinking water? Two ideas are pitched as solutions

Hopkinton Proposes New Committee to Address Water Contamination Issues

HOPKINTON — Select Board member Shahidul Mannan has proposed that a new committee be formed to address the town’s water contamination issues.

The proposal comes after testing of a town well has indicated that levels of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been over state regulations.

Mannan said during a Feb. 27 Select Board meeting that the proposal for the new panel is part of a goal to bring clean water to Hopkinton residents.

PFAS are manmade chemicals that can be found in several items, including firefighting foams and moisture- and stain-resistant products. Studies have shown that exposure to PFAS can lead to harmful health effects in humans and animals, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Hopkinton PFAS:

• Town plans $1M filtration system to address water contamination

Hopkinton PFAS: Town plans $1M filtration system to address water contamination

“The proposal is, essentially, because we certainly believe and it has been our strategic goal for quite some time to ensure that we provide, we manage the climate-related challenges and in this particular case we provide clean water to our residents, and provide the means to educate and understand the various challenges around it,” Mannan said.

He said the advisory committee would look at water quality monitoring; advise and evaluate remediation strategies; and lead community engagement and education. The committee would be comprised of residents and elected officials and would meet at least monthly.

Town Manager Suggests Stakeholder Meeting Before Forming Water Committee

Select Board member Mary Jo LaFreniere called for an investigation into the town’s history with firefighting foam, which was used for training in Hopkinton in the 1970s and ’80s before operations were moved to Stow.

‘Honor of a Lifetime’: Hopkinton town manager announces move to private sector

Select Board member Amy Ritterbusch praised the community engagement advocacy, but wanted to make sure redundancies were not created from other town departments working on clean water issues.

Ultimately, no action was taken to form the committee. Town Manager Norman Khumalo suggested convening a stakeholder meeting, after which the board will make a decision.

Hopkinton Officials Looking at Solutions to PFAS Problem

Hopkinton Department of Public Works Director Kerry Reed said in an interview that the town is working on solutions to the water contamination. For example, a filtration system for the Fruit Street well is currently in the works. The over $1 million project was announced last year, and will include two filtration vessels using granulated activated carbon and ion exchange filters. The system works similar to a pool filter, with the filters needing to be changed regularly.

More: State advises residents not to eat fish from 20 area ponds, lakes, and rivers. Here’s why

In addition, Reed said the town is working on linking to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s Quabbin Reservoir via Southborough. The connection was approved during Southborough’s March 2023 Town Meeting.

“We anticipate this process could take several years,” Reed said. “Clean and reliable drinking water is the main concern, but the process is not as easy as flipping a switch. We continue to work as hard as we can. I get it, people are frustrated and we want to deliver safer drinking water.”

Under Massachusetts law, PFAS levels are regulated to 20 nanograms per liter (ng/l). In Hopkinton, a water well located on Fruit Street has tested for levels over the limit since July 2021. The Public Works Department posts sampling results on its website. In January, the Fruit Street well had measured at about 36 ng/l.

It’s not clear where the PFAS contamination is coming from. Last year, town officials indicated that some have suggested firefighting operations in town during the 1970s and 1980s may have contributed, but added the town is presently without knowledge to judge the truth or accuracy of these suggestions.

Hopkinton is not alone. Other MetroWest communities, including Hudson, Mendon, and Natick, have been dealing with PFAS-related contamination issues. The municipalities have installed PFAS filtration systems to deliver clean water to residents.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
   • Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services.
   • Indicator 6.1.2: Proportion of population with access to safely managed sanitation services.

2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
   • Indicator 3.9.1: Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution.
   • Indicator 3.9.2: Mortality rate attributed to unsafe water, unsafe sanitation, and lack of hygiene (exposure to unsafe Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene for All [WASH] services).

Analysis

The article discusses the water contamination issues in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, specifically the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the town’s well water. Based on the content of the article, the following analysis can be made:

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to the following SDGs:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

• Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
• Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services.
• Indicator 6.1.2: Proportion of population with access to safely managed sanitation services.
• Indicator 3.9.1: Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution.
• Indicator 3.9.2: Mortality rate attributed to unsafe water, unsafe sanitation, and lack of hygiene (exposure to unsafe WASH services).

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: metrowestdailynews.com

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