Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Concerning Abington’s Tap Water
Q: Is our water safe to drink?
A: If you are not part of a sensitive subgroup (pregnant or nursing women, infants and people diagnosed by their health care provider to have a compromised immune system) yes, our water is safe to drink.
Much of the concern around this question has to do with the level of PFAS (Per and polyfluoroalkyls substances), in the water. PFAS are a family of manufactured chemicals used for non-stick coatings and fire fighting foams. They are resilient and do not degrade easily in soil and water. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (Mass DEP) updated the state’s Drinking Water Regulations regarding PFAS and established a maximum level of 20 nanograms per liter (ng/l) which is often referred to as parts per trillion. For perspective, this is equivalent to one drop of water in 20 Olympic sized pools. Before this change occurred, ARJWW was adhering to the federal standard of 70 ng/l which many other states throughout the country still find to be an acceptable level.
ARJWW tests its water regularly and reports its PFAS levels quarterly. If monthly averages are over the 20 ng/l level residents must be informed per Mass DEP regulations. You most likely saw a recent postcard to this effect. This is not an emergency. If it were, residents would have been notified via Code Red. If you haven’t already signed up for Code Red, I would encourage you to do so at https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/BF477A0487EF
It is important to note that consuming water with PFAS above the drinking water standard does not mean that adverse effects will occur. The degree of risk depends on the level of the chemicals and duration of exposure. The drinking water standard assumes that individuals drink only contaminated water, which typically overestimates exposure, and that they are also exposed to PFAS from sources beyond drinking water, such as food. Scientists are still working to study and better understand the health risks posed by exposure to PFAS.
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Q: So, what is being done and when can we expect this issue to be resolved?
A: A lot. Each year since PFAS has been an issue there has been some form of an article on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant, as well as discussions at each Annual Town Meeting, with the Finance Committee prior to Town Meeting, the Board of Health, and the Board of Selectmen.
- Annual Town Meeting 2019 approved $50,000.00 for upgrades to the Abington Rockland Joint Waterworks.
- Annual Town Meeting 2021 approved $50,000.00 for upgrades to the Abington Rockland Joint Waterworks.
- Annual Town Meeting 2022 approved $13,000,000.00 to design and make treatment plan upgrades to remove PFAS from the water, as did the Town of Rockland.
- Additionally, $130,000 was appropriated for upgrades to the wells and new PFAS Carbon filters. And we approved the use of $500,000.00 in American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) money to kickstart the engineering for the upgrades.
In total $13,730,000.00 +/- has been appropriated towards fixing the PFAS issue by Abington and an additional $13,730,000.00 +/- has been appropriated towards fixing the PFAS issue by Rockland for a total of $27,460,000 for permanent solutions to remove PFAS to meet MassDEP new regulations.
The Annual Town Meeting 2023 will be on the first Monday in April (4/3/2023). There will be several opportunities leading up to Town Meeting where the Water Superintendent will be providing updates to the Finance Committee and the Board of Selectmen.
Non monetarily, ARJWW has installed a self-service water filling station to provide water with levels of PFAS below 20 ng/L to those ARJWW customers in sensitive subgroups. The fill station spigot can be found at ARJWW Main Office located at 366 Centre Ave, Rockland, MA 02370. The spigot is open Monday – Friday from 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Please bring proof of residency. If you have any questions about the fill station spigot, please call: ARJWW Main Office number (781) 878-0901.
Q: Do taxes fund water?
A: No, general taxes do not fund the ARJWW. The water rates you pay are separate from town taxes. Current water rates went into effect September 1, 2022. The basic charge is $33 and a meter program cost of $10. There is an added charge of $6 per 100 cubic feet of use. Seniors receive a $10 discount per quarter.
Q: Can residents get a rebate on water?
A: No, fixing the PFSA issue and other matters, as well as the terms of state grants and loans, are dependent on the funding we contribute through the water rates we collect. Any reduction would have to be offset by cutting back on remediation efforts and would prolong and worsen any problem currently being worked on or that might arise.
Q: Why not join MWRA?
A: ARJWW has six drinking water sources, four ground water wells and two reservoirs, all local. The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority’s (MWRA) was created in by the Legislature in the Chapter 372 of the Acts of 1984. Section 8(d) of that law lists the member communities. As of September 2022, the MWRA is temporarily waiving fees for new town water hook ups there still lie many costly barriers to joining the authority including an in-depth environmental review, pipes built to connect to the existing MWRA’s system and sometimes modifications to the MWRA’s infrastructure. This can result in millions of initial startup costs.