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Community PFAS Testing
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority

CANTON

You might have seen recent news reports about per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (together abbreviated as PFAS). These are a class of human-made chemicals typically associated with certain fire-fighting foams. These chemicals are persistent and have been used in products we all use for decades.

Canton tests for PFAS  using extremely sensitive analytical methods for 14 different PFAS compounds in a MassDEP approved laboratory. These test methods can detect the presence of these chemicals down to levels below a part per trillion (ppt). While we have found evidence that some of these chemicals are in our water at low levels, Canton’s results are below MassDEP’s regulatory levels for PFAS in drinking water.

Additional information on Canton’s drinking water may be found at: https://www.town.canton.ma.us/261/Water-Sewer-Division.

PFAS Test Results for Canton

2022

PFAS Analyte (results in ppt) ppt Range
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)    
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)    
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)    
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)    
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)    
Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)    
Sum of PFAS6 - compare to MassDEP MCL of 20 ng/l 8.65 5-8.9

* Trace amounts are present but they are below the minimum concentration that can be reported as a quantified value. Categorized as not detected by MassDEP.
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level, highest level allowed

Unregulated PFAS    
PFBS 2.5 1.77-2.5
PFHxA 3.5 1.9-3.5
NEtFOSAA Not Detected  
NMeFOSAA Not Detected  
PFDoA Not Detected  
PFTeDA Not Detected  
PFTrDA Not Detected  
PFUnA Not Detected  
11Cl-PF3OUdS Not Detected  
9Cl-PF3ONS Not Detected  
Adona Not Detected  
HFPO-DA Not Detected  
PFBA Not Detected  

2021

PFAS Analyte (results in ppt) ppt Range
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)    
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)    
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)    
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)    
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)    
Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)    
Sum of PFAS6 - compare to MassDEP MCL of 20 ng/l 9.48 2.3-10

* Trace amounts are present but they are below the minimum concentration that can be reported as a quantified value. Categorized as not detected by MassDEP.
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level, highest level allowed

Unregulated PFAS    
PFBS 2.33 1.3-2.33
PFHxA 4.06 1.6-4.06
NEtFOSAA Not Detected Not Detected
NMeFOSAA Not Detected Not Detected
PFDoA Not Detected Not Detected
PFTeDA Not Detected Not Detected
PFTrDA Not Detected Not Detected
PFUnA Not Detected Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS Not Detected Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS Not Detected Not Detected
Adona Not Detected Not Detected
HFPO-DA Not Detected Not Detected
PFBA 2.33 1.33-2.33

2020

PFAS Analyte (results in ppt) ppt Range
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) 3.0 0-3.0
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) 1.5 0-1.5
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) 3.9 0-3.9
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) 3.2 0-3.2
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) Not Detected Not Detected
Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) Not Detected Not Detected
Sum of PFAS6 - compare to MassDEP MCL of 20 ng/l 11.6  

* Trace amounts are present but they are below the minimum concentration that can be reported as a quantified value. Categorized as not detected by MassDEP.
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level, highest level allowed

Unregulated PFAS    
PFBS 2.1 0-2.1
PFHxA 3.4 0-3.4
NEtFOSAA Not Detected Not Detected
NMeFOSAA Not Detected Not Detected
PFDoA Not Detected Not Detected
PFTeDA Not Detected Not Detected
PFTrDA Not Detected Not Detected
PFUnA Not Detected Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS Not Detected Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS Not Detected Not Detected
Adona Not Detected Not Detected
HFPO-DA Not Detected Not Detected

2019

PFAS Analyte (results in ppt) Neponset Treatment Plant - 6/14/19 Neponset Treatment Plant - 7/9/19 Pecunit Treatment Plant - 6/14/19 Pecunit Treatment Plant - 7/8/19
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) Not Detected Not Detected 3.93 4.43
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) Not Detected Not Detected Not Detected 2.19
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) Not Detected Not Detected 5.1 5.45
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) Not Detected Not Detected 2.95 3.79
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) Not Detected Not Detected Not Detected Not Detected
Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) Not Detected Not Detected Not Detected Not Detected
Compare to proposed MassDEP standard of 20 ppt for the sum of these six compounds* 0 0 12 15.9

* MassDEP has proposed a drinking water standard of 20 ppt for the sum of these six compounds. The sum reported here is based on the proposed MassDEP approach for handling trace results detected below laboratory reporting levels.


 
PFBS Not Detected Not Detected 2.33 2.32
PFHxA Not Detected Not Detected 2.68 3.16
NEtFOSAA Not Detected Not Detected Not Detected Not Detected
NMeFOSAA Not Detected Not Detected Not Detected Not Detected
PFDoA Not Detected Not Detected Not Detected Not Detected
PFTeDA Not Detected Not Detected Not Detected Not Detected
PFTrDA 2.61 Not Detected Not Detected Not Detected
PFUnA Not Detected Not Detected Not Detected Not Detected

   
Information on MWRA PFAS Levels

 
Historic Withdrawls Reservoir Levels