On Tuesday, May 16, the Town of Hopkinton will host a public hearing on the proposed use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds on a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) Filtration System for the municipal water supply. The Town Manager is seeking public input regarding expending $1,187,000 of the ARPA grant awarded by the United States Department of Treasury.
A Board of Health advisory remains in place for infants, pregnant women, nursing mothers and those who are immunocompromised. They are advised not to cook with or drink town water, and instead should use bottled water. The town offers a Bottled Water Rebate Program for affected residents.
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This is due to the higher than allowed limits of PFAS detected in the Fruit Street well (#6) in July 2021. Subsequently other sources of private water also tested for high levels of PFAS.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of of man-made chemicals that have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries around the globe, including in the United States since the 1940s. Some of the chemicals are very persistent in the environment and in the human body — meaning they don’t break down and they can accumulate over time. There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects, including liver, blood, thyroid, fetal development and immune systems effects.
The meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 16 at 6:30 PM in Room 215/216 at Town Hall. Remote participation is available via Zoom, with the link on the web meeting calendar listing for the hearing at www.hopkintonma.gov.
