New Wayland PFAS System Shut Down After Pipe Problem

WAYLAND, MA — A new water filtration system built by Wayland to remove PFAS chemicals from drinking water was shut down last week after a pipe failure, according to public works officials.

Wayland discovered the pipe failure on July 19 and reported it publicly on Monday. The town was scheduled to begin repairs on July 28, and hopes to have the system working again by July 31, Public Works Director Thomas Holder said in a news release.

Wayland began planning to build the filter system after discovering in spring 2021 that PFAS levels were above a new state standard at an array of wells near the high school. After about a year of planning, construction and testing, the PFAS filters began working this spring.

While the town was preparing the filter system, PFAS levels in town well water dropped below the state threshold of 20 nanograms per liter of water. But tests from mid-June showed that the PFAS levels had increased slightly above that state threshold at two of the wells at the Happy Hollow well field.

The town conducted water quality tests on Thursday to measure PFAS levels, but did not immediately have those results available.

PFAS are a group of chemicals that have been used widely in industrial and home uses, including in nonstick pans, Gore Tex jackets and on protective gear for firefighters. The chemicals can build up in the body over time, and may cause cancer, thyroid disease and birth defects, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Wayland officials recommended that people in high-risk groups — including pregnant women and infants — should consider using bottled drinking water or install a home filter to guard against PFAS.