At a public meeting called Monday, airport leaders and their environmental consultant said strategic testing is now under way in private wells south of the Edgartown-West Tisbury Road, downgradient of the airport.
By Thursday this week, unsafe levels of contaminants had been found in six private wells, according to Ron Myrick, an environmental consultant and director of remediation for Tetra Tech working for the airport.
Airport director Ann Richart said she first became aware of the PFAS problems from firefighting foam used at airports late last year.
As a result, she said in January 2018 the airport signed a $30,000 contract with Tetra Tech to begin testing the water in monitoring wells around the airport.
In April, Tetra Tech test results showed high levels of PFAS in the monitoring wells — more than 1,000 parts per trillion, Ms. Richart said.
In September, after further analysis, Ms. Richart said Tetra Tech recommended that testing be expanded to private wells south of the airport.
When the first test results from private wells came back early last week, the airport took steps to begin public notification and also continue testing, Ms. Richart said.
She also said the airport has taken steps to adopt new protocols for how the firefighting foam is used in yearly training drills (the drills were done twice a year but were changed to once a year in 2017 with FAA approval).
One asked how the firefighting foam is contained after it is used for drills.
“We’re testing wells ourselves.