Interview with Acton Water District on PFAS Contamination
BY KATARINA SPASOJEVIC '24
Acton's Water Supply has been contaminated with toxic substances known as PFAS. The Acton Water District (AWD), which supplies 95% of Acton’s households and businesses, has sent notices in the mail, informing of state regulation exceedances for PFAS concentration. According to the CDC, PFAS, also known as per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of man-made substances common in heat, grease, and water resistant products (“PFAS chemicals overview,” 2022). They are most notably associated with cancers; birth defects; and increased newborn death (Colton, 2021). PFAS bioaccumulates, or builds up in an organism’s tissues, because they resist degradation from the environment and the body (Colton, 2021).
The first part of this article, which was published in this year’s Winter Issue, explored the background on PFAS, state and federal regulations, and how one can reduce their exposure. This part features an interview with AWD personnel District Manager Matthew Mostoller and Environmental Manager Alexandra Wahlstrom, and explores how the AWD is managing the contamination. Here are some of the question they answered:
As the AWD decreases PFAS concentrations in drinking water, research teams are tackling the destruction of PFAS into non-toxic compounds. Although in its embryonic stages, a team at Northwestern discovered how to destroy PFAS using sodium hydroxide, dimethyl sulfoxide, and heat. With scientific inquiry, increased media attention, and political activism, there is hope for a long-term solution for PFAS contamination. |