With Chemicals In Drinking Water, Burlington Details Next Steps

BURLINGTON, MA — The town is taking measures to address elevated levels of toxic chemicals in its drinking water, including limiting drinking water from one plant treatment facility and taking water from other resources.

The town this week issued a notice detailing its elevated PFAS6 level, which it said last month was above the state's new standard. PFAS6, or polyfluoroalkyl substances, are "forever chemicals" linked to certain health risks.

The town's level is at roughly twice the state standard of 20 parts per trillion.

To combat that, Burlington is taking 1 million gallons of water per day from a Massachusetts Water Resource Authority connection through Lexington. It's also running the Mill Pond Facility as its primary plant and limiting drinking water production from the VineBrook Facility.

The town is also working to construct a water main to connect to the MWRA to get enough drinking water to replace what comes out of the VineBrook Facility. There is work to install additional filtration/treatment measures that would remove the chemical from the Mill Pond Facility.

Dozens of communities found themselves over the limit once the Department of Environmental Protection lowered its standard. Drinking the water does not necessarily mean adverse health effects will follow.

For more information see this fact sheet. Residents can call Treatment Plant Manager Russ Makiej at 781-270-1648 for more information.

Mike Carraggi can be reached at mike.carraggi@patch.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi. Subscribe to Burlington Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook.