Press Release  Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $10.3 Million to Address Emerging Contaminants like PFAS and Manganese in Drinking Water

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced more than $10.3 million in grants have been awarded to 18 public water suppliers to promote consistent access to clean drinking water for Massachusetts residents. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) selected these projects to help treat and remove contaminants such as PFAS and manganese. 

“Communities are facing growing challenges from emerging contaminants like PFAS and manganese, and they shouldn’t have to tackle them alone,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Through these grants, and other initiatives like the Mass Ready Act, we’re doubling down on our efforts to provide safe, clean drinking water for everyone.” 

“Small communities across Massachusetts are finding it harder than ever to tackle the myriad issues stretching local budgets,” said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. “We’re delighted to partner with our cities and towns through this additional funding to support one of the most critical needs: upgrades to aging and inadequate drinking water infrastructure. These projects will both address longstanding challenges and set up these systems to reliably serve residents for decades to come.” 

This grant program is federally funded; MassDEP collaborates with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support projects that assist small and disadvantaged communities to address drinking water contaminants, including those identified on EPA’s Contaminant Candidate Lists. 

PFAS and manganese are among the list of contaminants that are increasingly impacting water resources. PFAS are a group of harmful man-made chemicals widely used in common consumer products, industrial processes, and in certain firefighting foams. Exposure to sufficiently elevated levels of PFAS compounds can cause a variety of health effects, including developmental effects in infants, impacts to certain organ functions and the immune system, and an elevated cancer risk. Manganese is a naturally occurring element that is present in water, soil, air, and food. While a small amount of manganese is necessary for good health, long-term exposure to high levels in drinking water may have adverse impacts to the human nervous system. 

The following public water system projects received grant awards: 

Applewood Community Corporation, Boxborough - $100,000 
The public water system will use these funds for a pilot testing and feasibility study for PFAS and manganese removal and to begin the planning, design, and construction of a treatment system. 

Carlisle Congregational Church, Carlisle - $72,000 
The public water system will use these funds for planning and design and installation of a treatment system to remove PFAS.  

East Brookfield Water Department, East Brookfield - $500,000 
The public water system will use these funds to provide treatment for removal of iron and manganese from an existing well, along with construction of new well and treatment plant. 

Falmouth Water Department, Falmouth - $250,000 
The public water system will use these funds for an evaluation and assessment of source water (including for PFAS and Manganese) at existing and previously installed wells along with the permitting and development of new source water to begin the planning and design of a new treatment facility. 

Huntington Water Department, Huntington - $700,000 
The public water system will use these funds for connection of a household with PFAS contamination to the existing public water system and testing of neighboring private wells. 

Liberty House Condominium, Boxborough - $200,000 
The public water system will use these funds for planning and design, and construction of treatment system to remove PFAS. 

Maynard DPW, Water Division, Maynard - $2,300,000 
The public water system will use these funds for pilot testing and a feasibility study for PFAS and manganese removal and to begin the planning and design of a combined treatment system.  

Maynard State LLC, Westport - $4,700 
The public water system will use these funds for plumbing work necessary to activate the connection and consolidation of Maynard State LLC PWS with the Town of Westport’s new municipal water line due to their PFAS-contaminated well.  

Milford Water Department, Milford - $1,000,000 
The public water system will use these funds for a pilot study to evaluate alternative PFAS removal processes for the design of a new water treatment plant, and for construction of the water treatment plant.  

Norton Water Department, Norton - $1,500,000 
The public water system will use these funds for an alternatives analysis and pilot testing to address PFAS and manganese at two well sources, and to address PFAS at an existing treatment plant. 

Pinecroft School, Rehoboth - $6,314.88 
The public water system will use these funds for installation and construction of a treatment system for manganese removal.   

Rowley Water Department, Rowley - $1,500,000 
The public water system will use these funds for piloting, planning and design, and construction of a new water treatment system to remove PFAS from the source water.  

South Royalston Improvement Corporation, Royalston - $115,000 
The public water system will use these funds for planning and design, and construction of a treatment facility for iron and manganese removal. 

Templeton Municipal Light and Water Plant, Templeton - $500,000 
The public water system will use these funds for a pilot testing and feasibility study to address PFAS, and to begin the planning and design for construction of a water treatment facility. 

Town of New Salem, New Salem - $73,000 
The public water system will use these funds for a feasibility study, including consideration of creation of a new public water system, and public communication. 

Ware Water Department, Ware - $500,000 
The public water system will use these funds for pilot testing and a feasibility study for PFAS and Manganese removal along with the planning and design of a new water treatment plant. 

Webster Water Department, Webster - $500,000 
The public water system will use these funds for the construction of two new PFAS treatment facilities to remove PFAS from two water system wells.   

West Brookfield, West Brookfield - $500,000 
The public water system will use these funds for planning and design of a new treatment facility for iron and manganese removal with principal engineering oversight. 

Visit the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant page for more information about the grant program. To learn more about the communities that have received these grants, visit MassDEP’s EC-SDC Grants Map.  

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