MANSFIELD — Another facility in town is now treating water to remove PFAS, or so-called “forever chemicals.”
The town's water division has recommissioned the Walsh PFAS Treatment Facility operation on Gilbert Street to full capacity, Town Manager Kevin Dumas said.
It’s the second of four treatment facilities planned in Mansfield to provide PFAS-free water, Dumas said.
The latest project came about after results of PFAS samples taken in September 2020 at the Walsh Water Treatment Plant indicated levels greater than MassDEP guidelines.
As a result, the plant was taken offline, and a plan for a PFAS treatment facility, including well and treatment system upgrades, was put together and approved by residents at the fall town meeting in 2020.
The total project budget was $8.2 million, with zero interest for the PFAS part through the Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust Program.
The facility can treat up to 1.5 million gallons of water daily.
Before PFAS removal is complete, the water is first sent through the existing Walsh Water Treatment Plant for the normal water treatment process.
The first treatment facility for PFAS, the $5 million Cate Springs PFAS Treatment Facility on Maple Street, was put into operation in June 2022 to avoid more intensive outdoor water restrictions as the heavy water use season was beginning.
The water treatment plant there had been taken off line in May 2020 after higher than recommended PFAS levels were found.
The $4.54 million project qualified for a federal American Rescue Plan Act grant of $909,165 — 20% of costs.
The town will now be moving onto to its third PFAS improvement project, which will be for the Dustin/Prescott wells, Dumas said.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, are a family of chemicals used since the 1950s to manufacture stain-resistant, water-resistant, and non-stick products.
However, PFAS in drinking water has been a serious issue in the area and across the country.
Because PFAS are water soluble, over time the chemicals from some firefighting foam, manufacturing sites, landfills and other releases can seep into surface soils and groundwater.
