HALLOWELL — The impact of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as forever chemicals) is the focus of a free community forum set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, at Hallowell City Hall, 1 Winthrop St.

PFAS are man-made substances that have been measured at elevated levels in Hallowell drinking water.

The forum will cover local drinking water safety, ongoing efforts to address it, and practical steps that residents can take to protect themselves, according to a news release from Hallowell residents and attorneys Sharon Treat and Kristin Aiello.

The panel of experts discussing various aspects of PFAS contamination include:

• Zach Lovely, superintendent of Hallowell Water District, will provide an overview of the current water quality and challenges posed by PFAS;

• Darrin Lary, an engineer from Wright-Pierce, will discuss plans for constructing a filtration system to address the contamination;

• Dr. Rachel Criswell will speak about the health effects of PFAS exposure and practical measures residents can take to mitigate risks; and

• Sarah Woodbury, of Defend Our Health, will highlight legislative efforts to tackle PFAS contamination in Maine.

The event is organized and moderated by Treat and Aiello, who are committed to raising awareness about this critical issue, in collaboration with the Hallowell Conservation Commission.

“Given that ingestion of PFAS in drinking water has been linked to cancer, developmental delays and other serious health conditions, the goal of this forum is to share accurate information with the public so that people can make informed decisions about how to protect themselves and their families,” said Aiello.

For more information, email Aiello at kristin@aiellolawmaine.com or Treat at satreat@gmail.com.

Check out other upcoming area events!