Woburn Reports High PFAS Levels In Water Testing

WOBURN, MA — Woburn water tested above the state's maximum contaminant limit for PFAS, sometimes called forever chemicals, across third quarter tests, the city said in a letter some residents received Tuesday.

The city's water again tested above the limit in October before falling just below it in November, according to an update on the city website.

The city's water tested on average at 24 parts per trillion across five tests from July to Sept., according to the letter. The state maximum contaminant level for drinking water, set in Oct. 2020, is 20 parts per trillion.

The state line, 20 parts per trillion, is lower than the federal limit of 70 parts per trillion set in 2016.

The Oct. 2021 test found 27.1 parts per trillion of PFAS in the city's water. The Nov. test found 19.8 parts per trillion.

"This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours," the city said in the letter, but "some people who drink water containing these PFAS in excess of the MCL may experience certain adverse effects."

PFAS, or Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, can affect the liver, blood, immune system, thyroid and fetal development, as well as raising the risk of some cancers, the city said.

Certain demographics should be extra careful, according to the letter.

"Consumers in a sensitive subgroup (pregnant or nursing women, infants, and people diagnosed by their health care provider to have a compromised immune system):

• Are advised not to consume, drink, or cook with water when the level of PFAS6 is above 20 ppt.
• Are advised to use bottled water for drinking and cooking of foods that absorb water (like pasta).
• For infant formula, use bottled water or use formula that does not require adding water."

Others can continue to drink the water with less risk, but the city offered other tips for them too:

"However, if you are concerned about your exposure while steps are being taken to assess and lower the PFAS6 concentration in the drinking water, use of bottled water will reduce your exposure.

Home water treatment systems that are certified to remove PFAS by an independent testing group such as NSF, UL, or the Water Quality Association may be effective in treating the water.

In most situations, the water can be safely used for washing foods, brushing teeth, bathing, and showering."

The city also outline planned actions for addressing the contaminant level:

• "Continue to routinely sample our treated water and our individual source wells for PFAS6.
• Investigate potential options for removal of PFAS6 so that we can be ready to implement additional treatment of our water.
• Provide regular updates on the levels detected in our water supply.
• Install a bottle filling station for sensitive subgroup residents to obtain PFAS-free water. The details will be posted on our website when the station becomes available."

More information from the city is available here.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.