HALLOWELL — Concerns about PFAS, or forever chemicals, in Hallowell Water District water have been bubbling for over a year .

Now, levels of forever chemicals exceed state standards, and the only access to PFAS-free water in Hallowell — without a potentially expensive filter — is a spigot at the Winthrop Street district building. More than 900 buildings in Hallowell and Farmingdale receive their water from the district, including downtown businesses.

Water district leaders held an informational meeting Wednesday at Hallowell City Hall to answer questions from about 45 customers about health concerns, access to the spigot and the ongoing development of a brand-new filtration facility.

Here’s what you need to know.

What are PFAS, and how did they get in my water?

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — chemicals that can last for hundreds of years in the environment before breaking down. They’re found in most animals, water and humans around the world.

PFAS were discovered by scientists in the 1930s and have since been used in nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing and dozens of other products.

Hallowell’s drinking water source — two wells in Chelsea — are partially replenished by the Kennebec River, which is contaminated with PFAS, like most other bodies of water. Those forever chemicals don’t filter out before they reach the aquifer, and the district’s current filtration system can’t catch them, either.

The Hallowell Water District tests quarterly for PFAS, and sends notices to all customers if levels exceed the 20 parts per trillion limit currently in effect.

The most recent test, in December, showed about 30 parts per trillion of PFAS in Hallowell Water District water, the highest yet. Superintendent Zach Lovely said Wednesday that is likely because of the ongoing drought — less water is entering the aquifer from upland sources, where PFAS are limited, and more is coming from the Kennebec River.

Should I be worried about health impacts?

Research on the health impacts of PFAS is still new. Early indications suggest prolonged exposure could increase risk for pregnancy complications, some kinds of cancers and increased cholesterol, among other conditions.

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services suggests you speak to your doctor if you are concerned about impacts of PFAS. Blood testing is available to determine levels of exposure and the potential for developing certain health conditions.

What is the district doing to remove PFAS?

The Hallowell Water District has secured more than $10 million in funding for a brand-new filtration system, aimed to be complete in 2028.

It’s a hefty system, made up of two large vessels with specially manufactured clay that binds to forever chemicals, removing them from the drinking water. The clay was chosen after an extensive selection process, determining which chemical would be most effective in removing the PFAS and the least expensive to maintain over time.

Darrin Lary, an engineer at Wright-Pierce who’s managing the new filtration system project said at Wednesday’s meeting that the “hard part” of the project is done.

“We’ve selected everything,” Lary said. “The funding is all in place — that’s usually a big problem for us with treatment facilities, is not having the funding packages available. This has all been pre-approved. We have complete funding availability.”

Now, Lary said, the project design needs to be finalized. Contracting bids will go out “as quickly as possible.”

The facility will have options built in, he said, for future modifications to filter out other contaminants. But Hallowell’s water, besides PFAS and manganese, is “pristine,” he said. New contaminants are unlikely.

How can I get PFAS-free water?

There are several options.

• The Hallowell Water District allows customers to draw five gallons per day at its PFAS-free spigot at 52 Winthrop St.
• For those who can’t make that trip, the Hallowell All Age-Friendly Committee has organized a Water Buddies program with the water district to shuttle people to and from the spigot. Importantly, Water Buddies will not fill up your water or deliver it to you; that would open up the district and the committee to liability. Contact Hallowell Water District Superintendent Zach Lovely at 207-623-9151 or [email protected] to sign up for this service. Give your name, address, number and email address and a Water Buddy will contact you.
• The National Sanitation Foundation certifies filters for effectiveness in removing PFAS from drinking water. Find qualified filters on its website. Available filters range from counter-top tap accessories to whole-system plumbing plug-ins. Initial costs also range widely, from about $1,300 for sink-specific filters to several thousand dollars for whole-home systems.