PFAS water treatment system up and running in Weston

The Village of Weston is working to clean up their drinking water. 

In 2022, the village had to shut off two of their six wells after testing showed elevated levels of PFAS flowing into its water treatment plant.

“So with the elevated numbers of those two wells, we actually ended up taking well number 3 offline, and that’s been offline since May of 2022,” said Joshua Swenson, Weston’s Utility Superintendent. 

According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, PFAS chemicals are called “forever chemicals” because they break down slowly. 

PFAS chemicals are present in many everyday products, including nonstick packaging or cookware and stain-resistant clothing or carpets. 

As humans ingest the chemicals, the amount of some PFAS builds up in our bloodstream. 

“Our well number four was offline temporarily. We did put that onto a temporary system that removed the PFAS contamination through a process called ion exchange. So we actually were able to take that temporary system out now that we have the permanent system,” Swenson said.

Weston’s new permanent water treatment system removes PFAS from water through a process called “adsorption”

The water moves through a granular activated carbon tank where PFAS chemicals attach themselves, or adsorb, to the carbon material. 

“And then as it goes through, it’ll run into our clear well that we have a large reservoir where then it’ll get pumped out,” Swenson said.

Swenson says they hope to have another treatment system installed on Well 3 next year with an extra layer of filtration.

Installing both systems will cost $6.6 million, and half is paid for through the state Safe Drinking Water Loan Program.

Swenson also said Weston was involved in lawsuits against manufacturers including 3M, DuPont and Tyco Fire Products because their products polluted water supplies with PFAS.

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