FAQs • Burlington, MA • CivicEngage

Why are we building a filter facility at Mill Pond vs. a full MWRA connection?: Due to project timing and long term redundancy needs, we know that the filter facility will be a faster solution to the existing PFAS problem. Please see the project timeline for more details.

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PFAS

1. Why wasn't this an issue until now?: Though we presume that PFAS6 has been in the water of over 40 years, there hasn't been a way to test at the levels we have been until now. The Massachusetts DEP lowered the standard of PFAS6 levels in October of 2020 with Burlington required to test for the first time in April 2021.

2. Why are we building a filter facility at Mill Pond vs. a full MWRA connection?: Due to project timing and long term redundancy needs, we know that the filter facility will be a faster solution to the existing PFAS problem. Please see the project timeline for more details.

3. How often do we sample for PFAS6?: We are currently sampling monthly per DEP requirements.

4. Why do we send the quarterly mailing with only 2 months of data?: If the average of the month one + month two + zero will be greater than the MCL of 20 ppt, we are required by MassDEP to send our public notice within 30 days of violation. Since our quarterly average of month one + month two + zero has historically been greater than the MCL of 20 ppt, we have to send our mailing before the results of month three are released in order to be in compliance.

5. Why do other Towns have three months of data?: Towns like Woburn are very close to being in compliance with the MCL of 20 ppt. If Woburn has 19 ppt for month one and 18 ppt for month two, their month three results may place them within the 20 ppt compliance and not require them to send a public notice at all.