Several toxic “forever chemicals” that have been linked to cancer and other serious health effects have been detected in Cambridge’s drinking water, Cambridge Water Department officials said in a press release Friday. The city will begin sourcing water from the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) starting Tuesday.
The temporary switch to MWRA water is expected to cost approximately $2 million per month.
Cambridge officials said supply chain delays to the city’s water filter and increasing levels of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) that were found in the drinking water, have pushed officials to switch the city’s drinking water source.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the chemicals are typically used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water such as clothing, furniture and insulation for electrical wires. PFAS are often referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their environmental persistence: they don’t break down in the environment and are usually found in rivers and lakes.
PFAS remain in human bodies for a long time and have been linked to cancer, liver issues, reproductive complications and other serious health effects, federal health officials stated.
“Initial results for August showed PFAS levels trending upwards and September results are generally highest and so out of an abundance of caution, the Cambridge Water Department will be temporarily switching to MWRA water to eliminate potential health effects from PFAS levels above the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) regulatory standard,” said Sam Corda, managing director of the Cambridge Water Department.
Owen O’Riordan, acting Cambridge city manager, said Massachusetts has some of the strictest PFAS standards in the country. State water testing limits six PFAS chemicals to no more than a total of 20 parts per trillion in drinking water; Cambridge’s August drinking sample detected chemicals in 21.6 parts per trillion of drinking water, according to the city.
“The Cambridge Water Department is committed to maintaining and supplying high-quality water to our community,” Riordan said.
Kyla Bennett, director of science policy for Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility in New England, told the Boston Globe she doesn’t think Cambridge residents should be using or drinking the city’s water right now. She encouraged residents to purchase PFAS filters.
“I would not drink that water. I would not use that water. I would not feed that water to my dogs,” Bennett said. “I would buy a filter immediately.”
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