PFAS-Laden Fish Confirmed In Wayland's Lake Cochituate Section

WAYLAND, MA — State officials have extended a do-not-eat advisory to Wayland's section of Lake Cochituate after fish tested for high levels of PFAS chemicals, according to the town.

The extension of this week's advisory follows a warning issued earlier in March by the state Department of Public Health covering 13 bodies of water across the state where fish also tested for high levels of PFAS. Until this week, the warning only covered Natick's section of Lake Cochituate.

"Fish were collected and tested from the Upper and Middle Ponds of Lake Cochituate, which includes areas of Wayland/North Pond," the Wayland Board of Health said in an advisory. "Results show that levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are above DPH-recommended levels for fish consumption. The new advisory includes all sections of Lake Cochituate: Middle, North, South, and Carling Basins. This is based on the understanding that fish can travel freely between the three smaller sections of the lake."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PFAS chemicals may harm "reproduction, thyroid function, the immune system, and injure the liver" in humans.

The other bodies of water affected by the DPH do-not-eat advisory include the Ashland Reservoir, the Chicopee Reservoir, Dennison Lake in Winchendon, Dunn Pond in Gardner, Fearing Pond in Plymouth, Houghtons Pond in Milton, Pearce Lake in Saugus, Pequot Pond in Westfield, Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, Walden Pond in Concord, Wallum Lake in Douglas and Watsons Pond in Taunton.

The state has not found high PFAS levels in the water, only in fish, so swimming is still considered safe, officials said.

Wayland has been battling PFAS contamination in the town water supply ever since new state standards went into effect in late 2020. The town is exploring a connection to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority system as a long-term solution, and is also suing PFAS manufacturers to recoup money spent on PFAS remediation.