A state Department of Environmental Protection investigation found the West Tisbury fire station to be a contributor of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the area’s groundwater supply, affecting nearby wells.
A state Department of Environmental Protection investigation found the West Tisbury fire station to be a contributor of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the area’s groundwater supply, affecting nearby wells.
The discovery may put the town on the hook for the cleanup bill, potentially costing thousands of dollars.
“This is big deal,” said town administrator Jennifer Rand, after presenting a letter from MassDEP to the select board on Wednesday.
“I’m feeling slightly overwhelmed by the whole thing right this minute...we’re going to be committed to a fair amount of work.”
Ten wells near the fire station on Edgartown-West Tisbury Road have detected levels of PFAS, an array of chemicals that are linked to negative health effects. Tests of wells last year found one had 102 parts per trillion in the water, gaining it the designation of an “imminent hazard,” the highest level of concern.
Another well is also considered an imminent hazard and eight other wells had lower, but still reportable levels of the contaminants. The chemicals can be found in everything from waterproof clothing to nonstick kitchenware.
DEP determined that firefighting foams released at the fire department were the source of contamination. This type of foam was also a source of contamination at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport.
The DEP letter explained that because the contamination to West Tisbury wells came from town property, the town may be a legally liable party to the contamination. The town could be liable for up to three times the mitigation costs incurred by the state, as well as any damage to natural resources, according to DEP.
DEP has installed individual filtration systems at the two imminent hazard wells.
The state guidelines encourage the town to hire someone to oversee the response by Feb. 24, and to submit a plan of action by March 24.
In order to fulfill this obligation, Ms. Rand anticipates the town will have to dip into its reserve fund.
The news of this contamination follows the recent completion of remediation for the PFAS contamination at the airport, which was also caused by the deployment of firefighting foams. The installation of an aquifer filter ended up costing $272,500.
Comments
Where does all the money go
Joe WTWhere does all the money go to from short term rentals ??? This would be a good use of funds to clean up the mess..
I also don’t understand why this took so long to discover, the Town knew that the Fire Dept did training exercises at the location and the the airport, who is a a sleep at the wheel or should I say desk??
PFAS contamination is a
Peter J EdgartownPFAS contamination is a serious matter. We islanders live on a big pile of sand and whatever goes into the ground can come back out in our well water. If your well is contaminated, then what do you drink, how do you ever sell your house?
So, I have a question about the use of foam by our island fire departments. Last summer there was a single car accident and fire on Edgartown West Tisbury road, and foam was used to put it out. Photos of the scene show foam covering the ground after the was put out. (https://www.mvtimes.com/mvt/uploads/2022/06/WT-Car-fire.jpg)
In an article in one of the island newspapers on the Airport PFAS contamination, a firefigher said that the foam they now use does not contain PFAS unless they are dealing with a fuel fire. Are the island fire departments using PFAS foam when putting out car fires that involve the car’s gas tank? If so, how is the residual foam on the road dealt with? Is it vacuumed up and taken away to be treated as hazardous waste or simply washed off the road and into the ground (and thus our aquifer)? That seems to me to be an important question if we want to protect our families’s health and the value of our properties. As an individual I cannot find out the answer to that question and I wonder if the Gazette could inquire and report back to your readers.
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