PFAS

On October 2, 2020, MassDEP published its public drinking water standard or Massachusetts Maximum Contaminant Limit (MMCL) of 20 nanograms per liter (ng/L) or parts per trillion (ppt) – for the sum of the concentrations of six PFAS. The six PFAS are: perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS); perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA); perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS); perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA); perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA); and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA). MassDEP abbreviates this set of six PFAS as “PFAS6.” This drinking water standard is set to be protective against adverse health effects for all people consuming the water. For information on the PFAS6 please visit the Mass DEP PFAS resources webpage.

The Water, Sewer & Drain Division conducts routine sampling quarterly and testing of the town's primary source of water from the Charles River Wellfield via the Water Treatment Plant. 

***Please Note: The Town of Needham received approval in August 2022, from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), to reduce the monitoring sampling schedule for PFAS from monthly to quarterly. This change was approved due to our consistently reported PFAS levels below the MMCL.