Rehoboth PFAS Remediation is a ‘real challenge’

The remediation of PFAS in the town’s water has not been an easy or inexpensive process.

In 2022, harmful chemicals were discovered in the wells which supply water to the Town Hall and the Fire Station on Anawan Street. The water in the Town Hall and Fire Station wells contained per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

PFAS are a category of thousands of man-made chemicals mainly used in consumer and industrial products, including non-stick cookware, mascara, food packaging, water and stain resistant materials and fire-fighting apparatus and foam. These chemicals have been referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their strong chemical bonds that take a long time to dissipate.

These chemicals can circulate in the human body and cause adverse health effects. These effects include fertility issues, heightened cholesterol, changes in immune systems, increased risk of some cancers, liver damage, developmental changes for children and fetuses, and increased risk of thyroid disease and asthma.

Town Administrator Sue Pimental told the Board of Selectmen Monday that $1.4 million has already been spent on remediation. Pimental said $300,000 has already been allocated for this year, with another $500,000 in a special purpose account.

Pimental met with State Senator Kelly Dooner and State Rep. Steve Howitt about obtaining financial support for the ongoing work. However, due to the fact that Rehoboth does not have a public water supply, the town did not “satisfy any of the requirements for assistance.”

Congressman Jake Auchincloss has agreed to meet with town officials about the possibility of securing some financial aid at the federal level for the remediation.

“Not only do we have to clean up in the area and take care of our buildings,” Selectman Lenny Mills explained. “We have to do a 500 foot radius of abutters and then any wells that (PFAS) is found in, we not only have to purchase the well, but we have to maintain the well. We have to put the filter system in for the well and then maintain it.”

“(The state) are doing everything they can to increase density in the Commonwealth for housing,” Mills continued. “So if you’re a community like Rehoboth and you don’t have a public water supply, you don’t obtain relief. You can see the pressure being put on us as a community. It’s a real challenge. We had to test the last two fire stations (and PFAS) was there. We’re being ordered by the Commonwealth to “(test wells and public buildings).”

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) mandates that PFAS drinking water levels not exceed 20 parts per trillion for a combination of all six regulated PFAS chemicals. This combination can include any percentage of these chemicals as long as the total sum is less than 20 parts per trillion.

Pimental said the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is lowering the acceptable amount of PFAS which can be found in water. As a result, the restrictions on towns are increasing. However, Mass DEP has not implemented the new standards yet.

“We’re required to test within a 500 foot radius of the fire stations and test for that compound. There are 14,000 compounds of this PFAS. What DEP and EPA are attacking is the fire foam.”

“We’re testing constantly,” Pimental noted. “They had some monitoring wells dug and it tested high, above the required amount.”

Letters were sent out to 35 residents last week. 

Massachusetts DEP is requiring that all transfer station dumps be tested too.

“Likely that’s going to be high, not necessarily the fire foam, but whatever PFAS is in there.”

“Understand that we’re not sitting on this in any way, shape, or form,” Mills added. “It’s going to be a tremendous financial challenge to say the least.”