East Lyme makes first funding request to rid wells of PFAS

January 24, 2024 7:13 pm • Last Updated: January 24, 2024 7:19 pm

By Elizabeth Regan
Day Staff Writer

East Lyme ― The Water and Sewer Commission is hoping to use $189,298 in unspent pandemic relief funds to cover initial design costs for a multi-million dollar treatment facility to treat two wells of toxic “forever chemicals,” though disagreement remains on the urgency of the problem.

The move comes as the nation awaits a ruling from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on whether the agency will implement the first-ever federal limits on the amount of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, allowed in the water supply. The decision is expected early this year.

Members at the Tuesday commission meeting agreed unanimously to ask the Board of Selectmen to authorize them to use the money to bring in an engineering firm that will create the design for two industrial-sized filters and a building to house them.

The requested funds were initially approved for department projects that have since come in under budget.

The Water and Sewer Department earlier this month warned residents “very low” PFAS levels were found in the wells north of Gorton Pond in the Flanders section of town and near Dodge Pond in Niantic.

If utilities engineer Ben North gets his way, construction will begin later this year on a project he said could “easily” exceed $4 million to $5 million. But members like David Bond emphasized there are no current rules requiring the town to treat for PFAS.

Bond, during a public information session prior to the vote, asked the audience of about a dozen people for feedback on the massive expense he said will push “average to high” water rates firmly to the high side for the system’s 6,000 users.

“We sit up here ― and usually there’s nobody in this audience ― and we spend money,” he said from the dais of the Town Hall’s main meeting room. “Then everybody’s going to put on social media: ‘Oh, our water rates suck.’ And that’s the way it’s going to go.”

Resident and ratepayer Dawn Griswold spoke in favor of acting now.

“Well, that’s the way it’s going to have to be, because our health comes first and the planet comes first,” she said.

The widespread chemicals have been around since the latter half of the last century in products like nonstick pans, food packaging and firefighting foam. They’re often referred to as forever chemicals because they don’t break down and are difficult to remove from the environment.

Based on state Department of Public Health guidelines, the amount of PFAS found in the East Lyme wells does not rise to a level that would require treatment.

Each of the town’s seven wells is funneled through one main distribution system. North said that means the chemicals could potentially end up in anyone’s faucet, regardless of proximity to the affected wells. The blended water supply also means the exposure for any one user is likely to be lower than the levels detected at the source.

The proposed federal limits would require public water agencies to take action if numbers exceed 4 parts per trillion.

North said 1 part per trillion is comparable to a single drop of water in 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

“We’re now learning that even these levels in the parts per trillion are not healthy to be consumed and, over a long period of exposure, can cause different health issues,” he said.

North said he couldn’t guess why the chemicals were found in only one pair of wells, other than to note some of the wells are closer to population centers than others.

Member Michelle Williams agreed with the need for a design plan so the commission can better understand what the system will look like and how much it will cost.

But she concurred with Bond’s point that there is no federal rule compelling the town to act.

“I think it’s important for us to know that we are water providers and not health experts,” she said. “And this is still not a contaminant that has a regulation associated with it.”

Public Works Department Director Joe Bragaw, who oversees the Water and Sewer Department, pointed out the issue has implications beyond East Lyme borders.

The town has an agreement with New London to have water pumped in during the summer when demand is the highest, with the option to send excess water to the city in the off season.

Bragaw told the commission he’s given New London officials assurances that East Lyme will work toward addressing the problem.

Support for quick action also came from commission member Carol Russell.

She said existing supply chain issues may be exacerbated by the “stampede” that could result if the new EPA guidelines go into effect.

Chairman Dan Cunningham, the first selectman, said the more stringent rules will likely increase demand for all the equipment necessary to construct a new treatment facility.

“Right now we’re just a little bit ahead of the curve,” he said.