MAYNARD — The Maynard Water and Sewer Department has been awarded $2.3 million in grant funding to support major upgrades to the town’s water treatment systems, Town Administrator Greg Johnson and Department of Public Works Director Justin DeMarco announced Wednesday.
The funding comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) through the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) program, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The investment will allow the town to proactively address Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), often called “forever chemicals,” at the Old Marlboro Road (OMR) well field and through upgrades at the Maynard Water Treatment Plant. The upgrades are designed to meet anticipated state and federal PFAS regulations before contamination levels exceed allowable limits.
While the improvements will primarily target PFAS removal, the upgraded system is also expected to reduce naturally occurring iron and manganese, which can cause water discoloration. Town officials emphasized that aging infrastructure remains another contributor to discoloration and will be addressed through ongoing capital investments.
Planned work includes:
- Bench-scale testing at the Old Marlboro Road well field
- 8 –10 months of pilot testing and analysis to determine the most effective treatment process
- Preliminary design of a new OMR Water Treatment Plant
- Exploration of potential new water sources
These activities align with Maynard’s Water Master Plan and are intended to ensure both near-term safety and long-term service reliability.
“We are grateful for this funding, which allows us to take a proactive approach to addressing PFAS while also supporting our broader goals of improving water quality and capacity for the community,” said Public Works Director Justin DeMarco.
The town also thanked Senator Jamie Eldridge and Representative Kate Hogan for their role in helping secure the grant.