Overview:
The Water Division in Athol has warned pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants, and children aged 12 years and younger to avoid drinking the town's tap water due to higher than acceptable levels of percholate in the South Street well, which is only operated for a short period of time to take state-required water samples. The cause of the contamination is being investigated, and the well will remain offline until the source of the chemical has been identified and a solution has been found.
ATHOL – The Water Division has issued a warning advising pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants and children 12 or younger to avoid drinking the town’s tap water.
Tests performed on July 23 determined that water taken from the South Street well contained a higher than acceptable level of percholate. The tests found 3.2 parts per billion (ppb) of percholate in the water—the state Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for the chemical compound is 2.0 ppb. Subsequent tests have confirmed these initial results.
“The South Street well is the well that we historically and typically have used as a supplemental or backup source,” said Department of Public Works Director Dick Kilhart. “We have to do routine testing on all sources here, just like in every other community. We did a confirmatory sample (last) Friday. We worked with the Mass DEP (Dept. of Environmental Protection) office in Springfield throughout the weekend. As soon as those sample results came back, the well was taken offline immediately.”
Kilhart said that the main source of drinking water for Athol is the Tully well field. He added that the South Street well was once used on a regular basis, but today is operated for a short period of time to take state-required water samples, after which it is shut down.
Kilhart said percholate “is something in the groundwater that is introduced by blasting caps, by fireworks, and is used in other industrial products. There have been very few cases in Massachusetts of perchlorate hits. The last time there was a hit in Massachusetts was 2019.”
Town Manager Shaun Suhoski said in a statement that the DPW, in conjunction with his office, have been laying the groundwork for a future supplemental water supply.
“Currently Athol has a state One Stop application pending to explore a new water supply,” he said. We are hopeful for a positive response from the state in October. “
Kilhart said the search now begins for the source of the chemical.
“We need to figure out why it may be migrating in the groundwater. It’s very puzzling to us and the DEP because it’s not a common thing. Maybe it’s an anomaly, but that well will remain offline. It won’t be turned on and entered into the system until we’ve either clarified where it’s coming from, whether we need to construct treatment for it, or whether or not it might not be able to be treated in an economically affordable manner.”
Kilhart said anyone with concerns or questions can contact Athol’s chief treatment plant operator, Todd Little, at (978) 249-9244 or tlittle@townofathol.org or call the DPW office.
“I just want to give reassurances to the public that that well will not be reintroduced into the system until we can figure out where it’s coming from and why it’s coming from there,” Kilhart said. “Keeping the public safe is our number one priority.”
Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.