Attleboro puts Wading River water treatment plant into operation as dry weather persists | Local News | thesunchronicle.com

ATTLEBORO — An unusually dry autumn has forced the city to put the Wading River Water Treatment plant in Mansfield back into operation in order to meet water demand.

Using water from the treatment plant was halted in September because testing showed a higher-than-acceptable amount of polyfluoroalkyls substances, or PFAS.

PFAS, known as “forever chemicals” because they never break down, have been linked to illnesses in humans including problems with the liver, blood, immune system, thyroid, fetal development and even a higher risk of certain cancers.

The plant was expected to be back in operation Monday, according to Water Superintendent Kourtney Allen. She said she is hoping to get 2 million gallons per day out it.

She said the amount of PFAS would have to be reduced to 1 million gallons a day when the temporary PFAS removal plant opens in January.

Allen said city water restrictions are now at Level 4 due to persistent dry conditions.

“We’re not running out of water soon, but we need to take steps to make sure we don’t,” Allen said.

She said the average rain in September and October is 10.3 inches.

“We received 1.64 inches in September and 0.64 in October so we are more than eight inches short of average,” she said. “And the reservoirs that feed West Street (water treatment plant) are still dropping as it isn’t raining.”

In its two most recent tests, the Wading River Water Treatment Plant in Mansfield was in compliance with state regulations for PFAS.

The water level at Manchester Reservoir is roughly 137 feet over sea level. When it is full, it is 146.2 feet over sea level, Allen said.

“There really isn’t a super average for this time of year because it all depends on drought, rainfall, restrictions, and which reservoir we are using,” Allen said. “I can tell you that 137 is lower than we normally see.”

There may be discoloration of the water due to the plant startup, as well as due to elevated levels of manganese that were present at the Wading River plant earlier this fall.

Allen said she’s hopeful that the Pawtucket water emergency connection will be ready to go in a couple of weeks.

The cost to the city to tap into Pawtucket’s water supply will be $35,000 a week, which would calculate to $1.8 million a year.

“We are hopeful that these two sources should be able to meet system demand with supplementary volumes only being produced at West Street (Water Treatment Plant),” she said. “Just in case we are looking into other quick options.”

She said North Attleboro is having its own shortage of water, but that Seekonk, Norton and Mansfield “are all viable options for small volumes.”

“We are pricing pumps for hydrant to hydrant connections with all of these communities,” Allen said.

And the department is looking at bringing two old wells back on line that were shut down in the 90s as “emergency or permanent sources for the West Street Plant.”

The department is working with MassDEP to bring those wells on line.

The Water Department will continue to monitor for manganese and post to the website regularly.

George W. Rhodes can be reached at 508-236-0432.