Press release submitted by the Town of Wayland

On Thursday September 2nd, 2021, the Town of Wayland issued the latest round of test data related to the presence of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS6) in the Town’s public water supply. Yesterday’s data release represents the result of water samples taken from numerous test wells and surface water locations in and around the area of the Wayland High School Stadium. The purpose of testing these particular wells is part of a wider effort to gain a better understanding as to the potential source(s) of PFAS or correlation between PFAS levels and our groundwater.

The Town’s contracted engineering firm of Weston & Sampson performed the latest round of testing and results are posted the Town of Wayland website: www.wayland.ma.us/pfas. A brief narrative was included with the test results that gauged possible reasons for the most recent numbers and what they may signify. There were two sources cited as possibilities for the background concentrations of PFAS within the subbasin. The first source cited was the former Wayland High School septic system. The rationale included the fact that the two (2) wells located “downgradient” of the Wayland High School former septic system appear to, “exhibit higher than background concentrations for PFAS and are increasing in concentration. This observation indicates that the former septic system may be a point source.” The second possible point source mentioned was more environmental in nature. Specifically stated, “The upward trend in concentration may be a result of anomalously high precipitation in summer 2021.”

Town Administrator Louise Miller stated, “The Town will continue with a multi-faceted approach to tackling the PFAS issue. This approach includes the treatment of all three (3) wells at the Happy Hollow wellfield while also investigating the possible point
source(s) of PFAS in the groundwater.”