The environmental consultant tasked with evaluating the extent of PFAS contamination in private wells south of the Martha’s Vineyard Airport filed an action plan with the state over the weekend outlining short and long-term solutions to the contamination, including the installation of water filtration systems in affected homes.
The immediate response plan was filed by airport consultant Tetra Tech following the determination that 13 private wells out of 96 tested south of the airport since November contained elevated levels of PFAS.
PFAS can pose dangers to human health when ingested.
PFAS concentrations found in private wells in the initial phase of Tetra Tech’s investigation ranged widely, from none detected in the majority of the 96 private wells to more than 800 parts per trillion (ppt) in several, far exceeding safe limits of 70 parts per trillion as outlined in state Department of Environmental Protection guidelines.
The report identifies six of the 13 properties containing PFAS levels that could pose an immediate health hazard.
For a longer term solution, Tetra Tech will begin installing point of entry (POE) water treatment systems in up to 26 properties beginning in February.
Tetra Tech first tested the efficacy of the POE system in December on one private well with PFAS levels over 70 ppt and found that after two weeks, levels plummeted to 2 ppt, an overall reduction of more than 99.9 per cent.
The report also explains that no specific actions are currently planned for the mitigation of PFAS that’s infiltrated the soil and water where firefighting foam was released at the airport, citing the need for further evaluation.
In the meantime, the FAA-mandated foam tests will continue at the airport on a yearly basis with the foam being discharged into a containment tank on the property.
The entire initial site investigation is expected to be completed by November.