If you lived, worked, or attended school in the Hyannis area prior to 2016, you were probably exposed to toxic “forever chemicals” called PFAS that contaminated local drinking water.
Cover photo courtesy of Google Earth
Addressing Legacy PFAS Risks in the Hyannis Community
If you lived, worked, or attended school in the Hyannis area prior to 2016, you were probably exposed to toxic “forever chemicals” called PFAS that contaminated local drinking water.
Fortunately, PFAS filtration systems ensure that our drinking water meets current safety standards. Your past exposure, however, could come with health risks.
In addition, PFAS from contaminated sites continues to spread through our sole-source aquifer, ponds, and streams in Barnstable and into Yarmouth.
Being informed and proactive can help you remain healthy and protect our environment.
The PFAS Story in Hyannis and Environs
PFAS stands for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances found in everyday household products and some firefighting chemicals.
Historical use of these firefighting chemicals at the former Barnstable County Municipal Fire Training Academy (FTA) and Cape Cod Gateway Airport introduced large quantities of PFAS to the environment, contaminating our sole-source aquifer.
PFAS travels rapidly in sandy soils and persists in the environment indefinitely. Drinking water delivered to the Hyannis community prior to 2016 contained among the highest concentrations of these “forever chemicals” ever recorded in the United States.
Recent blood testing data show that some Hyannis residents have elevated PFAS levels, compared to levels in the rest of the U.S. population.
Human exposure to elevated levels of certain of these “forever chemicals” is linked to adverse effects on reproduction and childhood development, increased risk of certain cancers, reduced immune response, and increased cholesterol levels and obesity risks.
Groundwater treatment systems installed at wellfields ensure that public drinking water supplies meet regulatory standards, but they do not address the impacts of legacy exposures to Hyannis area residents, workers, and visitors. Health effects are still being studied.
Meanwhile, PFAS contamination persists, and plumes continue to spread. At the former FTA, the County has funded soil removal, capping, pump-and-treat removal, and a new permeable reactive barrier designed to prevent off-site migration.
The Airport’s only on-site control measure is capping, and the current plan is to leave soil contaminated by “forever chemicals” in place, forever. Additional plumes, emanating from unidentified sources, also exist.
Uncontrolled PFAS plumes continue to impact groundwater, surface water, and ecosystems in Barnstable and Yarmouth, with unknown health exposures and risks. Individuals exposed to historical water supply contamination face challenges in having their blood tested and in getting treated. In 2023, community members formed the Hyannis PFAS Group to help build awareness and accelerate solutions.
Understanding the PFAS Exposure Path in Hyannis
Stay Informed. Stay Protected.
PFAS contamination is an evolving situation in our community, with health risks and plumes that continue to spread through our aquifer. Fill out the form to join our mailing list to receive: