Groveland Water and Sewer Department Launches Public Outreach Campaign on New Water Treatment Plant to Meet Federal PFAS Mandates

GROVELAND — Superintendent Colin Stokes and the Groveland Board of Water Commissioners announce the launch of a community-wide public outreach campaign to inform residents and businesses about a major infrastructure initiative.

The Board of Water Commissioners has approved the construction of Groveland’s first water treatment plant, which will help the Town meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) updated PFAS guidelines.

PFAS — per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances — are known as “forever chemicals” because they are slow to break down. PFAS is found in water supplies across the country, but people are also exposed to the chemicals through consumer products and food. Prolonged exposure to certain PFAS can lead to adverse health effects.

Through a series of public-facing materials and informational events, Groveland Water and Sewer will share key aspects of the project — including cost comparisons with alternative considered options, the selected site location, a proposed timeline for construction, and the expected impact on water rates.

The project is expected to provide a double benefit beyond PFAS reduction. A major component includes replacing aging water mains, significantly reducing water discoloration from naturally occurring iron and manganese.

The plant will use a two-stage treatment process to remove both naturally occurring iron and manganese as well as PFAS compounds. Water will first pass through greensand filters to remove iron and manganese, which would otherwise clog the Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filters that are used to extract PFAS.

“This new plant represents a necessary and forward-thinking investment to set and maintain a standard of clean, safe drinking water for our community and comply with evolving federal regulations,” said Superintendent Stokes.

While Groveland’s current water supply is well within safety standards — and is ranked among the cleanest in Essex County by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) — the town has occasionally exceeded the action level for PFAS, and the town experiences discoloration, especially during peak usage times, due to iron and manganese that is naturally present in the groundwater. Historically, the town has explored options in the past but this is the first time Groveland will construct a facility to treat or filter its water supply.

Groveland has prepared for EPA changes by working closely with third-party engineering firm Apex Companies. Apex has helped the Department evaluate multiple paths to compliance, including purchasing water from neighboring Haverhill. Ultimately, building an in-town treatment plant proved to be the most cost-effective and more reliable long-term solution, as well as keeping control of all aspects within Groveland.

“Groveland has an ample supply of our own water right under our feet, and with a treatment plant, we will be able to address the twin concerns of PFAS and ground mineral discoloration and contamination,” Stokes said.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $44.6 million. The Water and Sewer Department has secured a low-interest loan to be repaid over 30 years by water system users and is actively pursuing any available state and federal grant funding to further reduce the financial expense to ratepayers.

“This is a generational investment in our public health infrastructure,” said Sarah Sheehan-McGrath, Chair of the Groveland Water and Sewer Commission.
“As such, we will take the time to fully inform and educate all of our residents and business owners on the costs and benefits of this new treatment plant.”

The Groveland Water and Sewer Department invites all residents to follow along as more information becomes available throughout 2025.

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