Barnstable County officials are ramping up efforts to tackle PFAS contamination with a comprehensive groundwater and sediment sampling initiative. During a recent meeting, experts detailed the installation of multilevel triplet wells and piezometers across various sites, including the Barnesville Fire District and surrounding areas, to assess the extent of contamination.

The team is strategically placing these instruments to monitor groundwater interactions with surface water bodies, particularly around Flint Rock Pond and Mary Dunn Pond. These low-impact installations are designed to minimize environmental disruption while providing critical data on contamination levels.

In addition to groundwater monitoring, the county has initiated sediment sampling in both ponds to support an ecological risk assessment. Recent efforts included collecting samples from new locations, marked by green stars on the project maps, to better understand the horizontal extent of contamination. Results from these samples are pending, but they are expected to play a crucial role in shaping future remediation strategies.

As the county continues to address PFAS concerns, the findings from these assessments will be vital in guiding effective environmental protection measures and ensuring public safety.