Rehoboth to Pay for PFAS Remediation

The Town of Rehoboth has entered into an agreement with Wilcox and Barton to perform PFAS remediation.

Wilcox and Barton recommended that the Town should establish a budget of approximately $300,200 for fiscal year 2027.

The firm will perform “ongoing environmental counseling and Licensed Site Professional services in response to the identification of elevated concentrations of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water supply wells in the vicinity of the Fire Department property on Anawan St (the site),” according to a June 16 letter to Sue Pimental, who was the Interim Director of Finance and Compliance. Pimental is now the Town Administrator.

Wilcox and Barton initiated LSP services and Immediate Response Action (IRA) activities in March 2022, following receipt of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Notice of Responsibility (NOR), dated February 14, 2022.

Tasks include ongoing source area investigation, private well sampling, installation and maintenance of point-of-entry treatment (POET) and point of use (POUT) systems, drum disposal, data review, coordination with offsite property owners, and regulatory reporting.

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.

Massachusetts 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.