Are septic systems or private wastewater treatment within a Zone II aquifer wellhead protection area regulated for PFAS? If so, how?

No. There is no specific regulation of PFAS in a Zone II aquifer wellhead protection area (refer to glossary) relative to septic systems. However, the MassDEP Title 5 program and land use controls offers general protection to Zone II aquifer areas. Local Boards of Health and MassDEP are the regulatory authorities for septic systems. The Town of Nantucket’s Septic System Resources website (see call-out box) has helpful resources for you to ensure you are doing your part to protect the Island’s resources, including the Zone II aquifer wellhead protection area.

To learn more, check out Nantucket Septic System Resources: https://www.nantucket-ma.gov/720/Septic

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1. Are there public drinking water standards concerning PFAS?
2. Does MassDEP have a program to support private (domestic) well testing?
3. Does the aquifer that the Island gets groundwater from have PFAS in it?
4. Can I hook up to public water? If Yes, how?
5. Are septic systems or private wastewater treatment within a Zone II aquifer wellhead protection area regulated for PFAS? If so, how?
6. Who is available to perform PFAS Sampling & Testing?
7. Can PFAS drinking water or soil standards be applied to leachate or co-compost?
8. Are private (domestic) wells located below (downgradient of) the landfill impacted by PFAS?
9. Is there a plan to collect PFAS samples from the Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) and landfill site?
10. Did Waste Options perform PFAS testing at the landfill in the summer of 2019?
11. Even though 2019 PFAS testing was done with an imperfect method at the time (EPA 537), were the results found concerning?
12. What were the results of the testing of private wells that were sampled by MassDEP/UMass?