Tainted water will get state DEP attention

NORWOOD Á The state will get involved in assessing perchlorate contamination at Buckmaster Pond.
Due to the discovery of perchlorates in the Buckmaster wells at levels that exceed state limits, the town must now file what is called a Phase I report with the state Department of Environmental Protection.
DEP spokesman Ed Coletta said yesterday the town will be required to go through a five-step process to determine the extent of the contamination, any possible public health threat, and potential remedies.
Coletta said the cost of the process and the time frame vary case by case. ``It all depends. Some cases are wrapped up within a year, others take a decade,'' said Coletta.
Perchlorates are inorganic chemicals that are highly soluble in water and can, if ingested, adversely affect the thyroid gland, which regulates the body's metabolism. Perchlorates are commonly used as accelerants and are often used in rockets and fireworks.
Coletta said the party responsible for the contamination typically pays for the DEP study. Norwood officials believe a possible source of the contamination is Westwood's fireworks displays that have traditionally taken place over the pond, which is Norwood property but lies within Westwood's borders.
If that is the case, the burden may not be Norwood's to bear.
``That's something the two towns are going to have to work out,'' said Coletta.
As for cleanup, Coletta said it may not be necessary, although he said if Norwood decides to move forward with its plan to reactivate the wells, the water would have to be treated for perchlorates.
Norwood's water consultant, Fay, Spofford & Thorndike Vice President John Krawczyk, told selectmen Tuesday he anticipates the initial report would cost $12,000. Krawczyk said the discovery of perchlorates was a big surprise, and said FS&T began preparing a report to the DEP as soon as tests revealed the presence of perchlorates in excess of the DEP-limit of 2 parts per billion.
``The first report is really an investigative report that encompasses a review of the sampling to determine the problem and if there is any public health threat,'' said Krawczyk. ``We'll continue to work on that.''
Whether the town still wants to pursue using the pond as a water source has yet to be determined.
[cf330]Daily News staff writer Brian Falla can be reached at 781-433-8339 or at bfalla@cnc.com