“PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of thousands of synthetic, toxic chemicals found in a variety of ubiquitous household items such as stain-resistant fabrics, non-stick cookware and personal care products.” (VT Digger article on recent study)
There is growing concern over PFAS entering our waterways. HooRWA has concerns about these forever chemicals in the Watershed. And what one community chooses to do, affects communities downstream ~ so we are really all in this together.
We contracted with UMASS Amherst to run lab work on PFAS at 10 sites in the Hoosic and tributaries in the MA section. Though 8 sites didn’t show high PFAS counts, the results at Sites 1 and 9, both NW of Williamstown, near the Hoosac Water Quality District wastewater treatment plant and old town landfill were higher. It should be noted that these two sites also exhibited higher levels of several metals, sodium, chloride, nitrate, and sulfate compared to the other 8 locations. The report concluded, “Despite more elevated levels at sites 1 and 9 (the two Williamstown sites near HWQD), no single site stands out as heavily contaminated by PFAS.”
Sean McBeath, PhD, Assistant Professor, in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, did note, “Overall, the northern (downstream) sampling sites were observed to have relatively higher concentrations of targeted analytes when compared to southern (upstream) sampling sites. It might be of interest for future sampling to be done after precipitation or storm events, whereby metals and PFAS may be mobilized into the Hoosic River from surface runoff and groundwater contributions.”
Read the UMASS’ report on PFAS and heavy metals profile in the Hoosic:
Here are some links so that we can all educate ourselves on how each state in the Hoosic River Watershed is addressing the issue of PFAS.
- Review EPA’s “PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation“
- Read MA DEP’s 2023 report on “Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Free Laboratory Analyses Program for Public Water Suppliers and Private Wells“
- Read NY DEC’s Response to PFAS Contamination
- Read how VT DEC is addressing PFAS
- On March 17, 2025 students from Bennington College completed a study on PFAS in Bennington residents’ wells.
- Looking for products that are labeled as PFAS-Free? Check out pfascentral.org/pfas-free-products
- Read They Poisoned the World: Life and Death in the Age of Forever Chemicals by Mariah Blake, 2025 – this work of nonfiction focuses on Hoosic Falls NY
- Watch Teflon Town: Chemfab’s Toxic Legacy – documentary focuses on North Bennington VT
Because there is no “away” the best activity we can do on a personal level is to choose products for our bodies, homes, and yards wisely and, with our purchasing power, move away from products that contain PFAS.
There is a national effort to remove PFAS from our water. Maine has banned land application and has a phased-in ban on PFAS products sold in the state, with complete eradication set for 2030.