Soon there will be much less PFAS allowed in drinking water. What are Natick’s plans?

Natick Officials Seek Long-Term Solutions for Water Operations

NATICK — A federal plan to drastically reduce the maximum allowable level of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination in municipal water supplies has Natick officials looking for long-term solutions for its water operations.

The town has been investigating the future of its water supply through a 55-year plan that Natick officials have been working on for a few years. But during a Select Board meeting on Wednesday, Department of Public Works and Facilities Executive Director Bill Spratt said the town must combat changing regulation standards from the Environmental Protection Agency.

“Changing regulations are coming,” he said. “The Environmental Protection Agency has changed the limits of PFAS, and what we currently have in our system and what we currently filter out will not be adequate with the new regulations.”

Impact of New Regulations

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Spratt said new regulations will be implemented within the next two to three years, although no official date has been announced. Currently, the EPA stipulates that drinking water must contain fewer than 20 parts per trillion of PFAS. But that standard is expected to tighten to 4 parts per trillion, which Natick officials say cannot be accomplished with their current infrastructure.

Challenges with Current Water Supply

Natick gets its water from 11 groundwater wells throughout the town, and is then treated at one of four treatment plants. But Spratt said volume isn’t always adequate.

“The Elm Bank plant is powered by the Charles River, and if the Charles River isn’t flowing fast enough, we can’t use that plant to treat water, and sometimes we really need that water,” he said.

Spratt said that over the past 10 years, the Elm Bank plant was unable to be used an average of 73 days per year — one out of every five days. That impacts Natick’s ability to produce usable water.

Natick Official Proposes Joining Regional Water System

Spratt proposed the town consider becoming a member of the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority, a regional water and sewer system that utilizes the Quabbin Reservoir, among other bodies of water, that many communities in Greater Boston use. Natick currently uses the MWRA for its sewer system.

Spratt said that by joining the MWRA, Natick could supplement any inefficiencies in its water system with reliable water that meets future requirements.

“The MWRA has capacity — they have about 50 million gallons of water per day of capacity — and they are looking for new members,” he said. “It currently meets the current PFAS water regulations and all of future regulations.”

“This is scalable,” Spratt continued. “We can ask for permission to join, ask for the full amount, six million gallons per day, but only take what we need. We can scale up and down as needed.”

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Process and Costs of Joining MWRA

In order to join the MWRA, Natick would need to get approval from Town Meeting, then request admittance into the program, which involves a lengthy process including a review period by the MWRA. And if accepted, the town would have to construct additional infrastructure to connect to MWRA aqueducts that run through either Framingham, Wayland or Weston.

The MWRA has waived the entrance fee it normally requires joining communities to pay, due to the proposed EPA changes for PFAS and other contaminants. Spratt noted that if Natick were to join during this period, it could save the town between $12 million and $15 million by not having to pay the entrance fee. The waiver period runs through at least 2027.

But while the entrance fee is currently waived, there would still be a substantial cost associated with building the necessary infrastructure to connect Natick with the MWRA. A report last year by Maynard-based Hayley Ward Inc. found that the town would have to invest about $3.6 million for water main upgrades and $1.1 million for a booster station.

During the July 26 Select Board meeting, board Chair Bruce Evans asked

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.
   • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
   • Indicator 6.1.1: Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services.
   • Indicator 6.3.2: Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality.

2. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Analysis

The article discusses the issue of PFAS contamination in municipal water supplies in Natick and the need for long-term solutions to comply with changing regulations. 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 SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation and SDG 13: Climate Action.

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

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

• Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
• Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

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

Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article 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 6.3.2: Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality.
• Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.

The article mentions the need for Natick to find long-term solutions to comply with changing regulations on PFAS contamination in municipal water supplies. This aligns with SDG 6, specifically Target 6.1, which aims to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. The indicator 6.1.1, which measures the proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services, can be used to measure progress towards this target.

The article also discusses the impact of changing regulations on water quality and the need to improve water quality by reducing pollution and eliminating hazardous chemicals. This aligns with SDG 6, specifically Target 6.3, which aims to improve water quality. The indicator 6.3.2, which measures the proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality, can be used to measure progress towards this target.

Additionally, the article mentions the potential threats to the water supply due to natural disasters and the need to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity. This aligns with SDG 13, specifically Target 13.1, which aims to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters. The indicator 13.1.1, which measures the number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population, can be used to measure progress towards this target.

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: metrowestdailynews.com

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