Littleton to soon address PFAS contamination with completion of treatment plant
LITTLETON — The Whitcomb Avenue Water Treatment Plant planned to treat iron and manganese in the town’s water when the project began in May 2018. But the following year, in October 2019, the town discovered PFAS contamination in its water.
Despite that hiccup — as well as financial hurdles for its approval — the facility celebrated the completion of the $20.25 million project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday morning.
The 10,000-square-foot plant contains sets of filtration tanks that contain billions of microorganisms inside that eat the iron and manganese out of the water. In the PFAS tanks, granulated activated carbon will work similarly to remove that contaminant before the water is pushed out, clean, through about 80 miles of water main, LELWD Water and Sewer Superintendent Corey Godfrey said.
Water from the two Whitcomb Avenue wells and Spectacle Pond well will be treated at the site. The Beaver Brook wells are not serviced by the treatment plant, Godfrey said. The plant will also serve part of Boxboro, which is also facing PFAS.
With the capability to filter up to 1.8 million gallons a day, the biological treatment facility is one of few, LELWD General Manager Nick Lawler said.
“The community has been very supportive, not just financially, but from a customer service standpoint,” Lawler said. “So, thank you for that.”
When PFAS was first found in the Spectacle Pond well, the LELWD combined its water with that from the Beaver Brook wells in an effort to lower the PFAS levels. Lawler said they also implemented a temporary piping solution, but were unable “to flush the system,” leading to a current buildup of grim they hope to soon address.
LELWD plans to get their PFAS filtration tanks online come mid-November, Lawler said. The manganese filters are only partially online.
Bonnie Heiple, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, applauded Littleton for its work to provide “safe, reliable drinking water” to its residents.
PFAS is a relatively new issue, Heiple said, but despite that, regulators are finding and implementing solutions across the board. Representing Gov. Maura Healey’s administration, Heiple said the state is regulating water standards, remediating the pollutant and “helping to develop the science to assess the impacts of PFAS compounds on the environment and on public health.”
Funding in the state’s budget will go toward PFAS sampling and hiring more staff who will assist in tackling PFAS, Heiple said.
Being at the forefront of PFAS remediation — as other towns and cities grapple with its impact — Littleton appears to be at the head of the curve, Heiple said.
“Truly, congratulations. You were confronted with a really complex set of problems, and as an early actor, there was no clear playbook to follow,” Heiple said. “Your commitment to seeing this through will benefit Littleton for decades to come.”
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are chemicals that come from manufacturing and industrial plants that contaminate drinking water, soil, food, home goods and more, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Considered “forever chemicals,” exposure to PFAS can result in certain types of cancer, developmental delays in children, decreased fertility and a weaker immune system, according to the EPA.
MassDEP set the maximum contaminant level for 20 parts per trillion in drinking water.
Interim Town Administrator Ryan Ferrara said the completed project serves as an “outstanding accomplishment for the team.” With relief from the state, Ferrara said the town saved about $15 million, all in an effort to mitigate adverse health risks and effects.
“PFAS is a critical issue for the town and other communities across the commonwealth,” Ferrara said. “It’s taken a lot of work to get to this point, and I’m feeling a lot of gratitude. This is to protect people and their health.”
The facility cost $20.25 million to complete, coming in $4.2 million under the allotted budget. Thanks to a 20% forgiveness state grant in March 2022, the project looks to save ratepayers about $4 million, according to LELWD, while the other $16 million will be financed through the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust. Ratepayers will pay back that loan, meaning no tax dollars will fund the plant.
During the ceremony, rain slowly and then quite quickly soaked speakers and attendees outside the plant. But the weather failed to dampen anyone’s spirits, and for Lawler, it symbolized a message from above.
During construction of the plant, LELWD Operations Assistant Margaret “Meg” Fraser Romilly passed away in December 2022. Having worked at LELWD for 27 years, Fraser Romilly devoted much of her time and effort, all for their benefit, Lawler said. A plaque by the entrance of the facility reads her name, and the building is dedicated in her memory.
“Meg used to always do a rain dance for us,” Lawler said, standing in the rain, “so I’m sure that’s what’s happening now.”
Originally published at https://www.lowellsun.com on September 14, 2023.
