The United States Environmental Protection Agency has issued draft regulations that will set maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a series of PFAS compounds. Proposed MCLs for PFOA and PFOS are both set at 4 parts per trillion (ppt) which are quite a bit lower than MassDEP requirements. A hazard index will be used to regulate 4 additional chemicals - PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS and HFPO-DA. Test results for all of these compounds are available at https://www.topsfieldpublicworks.org/apps/watertesting/. The draft regulations also include Maximum Contaminant Level Goals of zero ppt for PFOS and PFOA. Ultimately EPA doesn't want to have any PFOS or PFOA in drinking water but there are limitations that prevent this including testing accuracy, removal effectiveness and economics. These considerations are why the proposed MCL is 4 ppt.
Topsfield Public Works
on the road and the web
Water Quality
Water Testing Website
We conduct hundreds of water quality tests each year. Results are now available on our Water Quality Site which includes information about which water sources are in use. The site has been under development for several years and more functionality will be added as time permits.
Annual Water Quality Reports
The water quality report for 2013 is now available online. Click here to view the report or here to see all of the reports available.
Subcategories
PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances 8
PFAS are a broad group of manmade chemicals used for a wide variety of purposes. Used since the 1950s, these compounds are in fire-fighting foams, clothing, flame retardants, food packaging, water proofing materials, and carpeting to name a few. These compounds, of which there are reportedly thousands, are structurally and chemically different from each other but share certain properties such as very strong carbon-fluoride bonds that make them very durable in that they do not readily breakdown in the environment, are not affected by natural biological processes, and can persist for years.
Some of these compounds were first detected in our water during the fall of 2019. Further tests conducted in 2020 have confirmed the presence of these chemicals in varying amounts. We now test for 18 of these compounds on a monthly basis. For detailed testing results please visit our water quality site at https://www.topsfieldpublicworks.org/apps/watertesting/.
MassDEP promulgated new regulations concerning PFAS which took effect in October 2020.
Water Department
279 Boston Street
Topsfield, MA 01983
978.887.1517
978.887.1543 (Fax)
911 - After Hours Emergency
Hours: Monday-Friday 7 AM to 3:30 PM
Highway Department
279 Boston Street
Topsfield, MA 01983
978.887.1542
978.887.1543 (Fax)
Hours: Monday-Friday 7 AM to 3 PM