Residents from Yarmouth and Hyannis are working together to prevent PFAS chemicals from traveling further through groundwater.
The so-called forever chemicals have been linked to cancer, fertility issues, and a range of other health problems.
The Hyannis PFAS Community Working Group has received a grant to analyze how PFAS — from the Hyannis Gateway Airport, the former Barnstable County Fire Training Academy, and elsewhere — are interacting with one another in the aquifer, surface waters, and local ecosystems.
Linda Bolliger, from the Hyannis Park Civic Association, said little is known about that.
“This situation is so unique where we have two registered waste sites… One can’t just look at one of these sites because there's co-mingling,” she said.
But at this point, Bolliger said, drinking water in Hyannis and Yarmouth is safe. Local wells are being successfully treated and she does not want to alarm Hyannis or Yarmouth residents about its safety.
Rather, she said, she’s concerned that the airport is claiming PFAS contamination has successfully been contained, but the contamination is still migrating and extends beyond the treatment site at the Maher Wells.
“What does this mean? It means that Yarmouth continues to be the recipient of contamination from the Airport,” Bolliger said in a follow up email.
Now, Bolliger said, a state grant will enable the group to analyze data from the airport’s PFAS plumes with the help of water quality specialist, Tom Cambareri.
She expects it’ll take several years to fully understand.
“This isn't going to be an easy slog,” she said. “It could take some time to sort all this out.”
This story has been modified to add clarification on the extent and intention of the Working Group's analysis.
