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 |