Sen. Eldridge and Rep. Sena announce $135,000 grant to Ayer to address emerging contaminants
The funding from MassDEP and the EPA will allow the town to evaluate alternative PFAS removal process options at the Grove Pond Water Treatment Facility
AYER, MA – State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough) and State Representative Danillo Sena (D-Acton) announced that the Town of Ayer received a $135,000 grant designated to evaluate PFAS removal alternative process options at the Grove Pond Water Treatment Facility.
The funding comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant Program. Established in 2023 the program provides individual states with funds to assist small and disadvantaged communities in improving drinking water through projects that address contaminants listed by the EPA.
In coordination with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), 21 communities in the state were selected to receive funding guaranteed by EC-SDC to help remove PFAS and manganese.
In Ayer, these funds will allow for a pilot study to evaluate PFAS removal alternatives at the Grove Pond Water Treatment Facility. The site is currently home to the first PFAS treatment plant in Massachusetts, and the grant money will allow the town to examine additional tactics to remove PFAS.
“Contaminated drinking water poses a threat to public health and the environment if left unchecked. Small and disadvantaged public water systems face significant resource challenges when it comes to identifying and neutralizing these pollutants,” said MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple. “This funding from the EPA provides significant support for these critical water projects as we work with public water suppliers to ensure safe and healthy drinking water for all residents across Massachusetts.”
“Ayer has been at the forefront of addressing PFAS contamination, and I’m thankful for Mass DEP and EPA for their help in furthering these efforts,” said State Senator Jamie Eldridge. “Ensuring clean, safe drinking water is vital to the health of our communities, and this funding will support innovative solutions to protect Ayer residents for years to come. I look forward to seeing how these new processes will benefit the town and contribute to a safer environment.”
“Ayer has been working to eliminate PFAS in the environment for a long time, and the town has been a leader in providing innovative ways to treat water for the safety of the community, said State Representative Danillo Sena (D- Acton). “I’m happy to hear that Ayer received this vital funding to support this important work as they continue to mitigate the effects of PFAS in the community and provide clean, healthy water for generations of residents to come.”
Visit the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant page for more information about the grant program. To learn more about the communities that have received these grants, visit MassDEP’s EC-SDC Grants Map.
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