July 30, 2025 By Carol Britton Meyer
The water commissioners — comprised of the Hingham select board — approved Tuesday night an agreement with a consulting and engineering services company for Phase 1 of a Water Treatment Plant Capacity Evaluation and PFAS Study for the Weir River Water System. PFAS is often referred to as “forever chemicals.”
WRWS will host a public PFAS information session this fall. “This issue is important to the community and a priority for the water commissioners,” Liz Klein said.
The agreement calls for APEX Companies LLC, through Environmental Partners Group LLC, to complete the study in six months, with technical memoranda sharing updates throughout the process.
“PFAS is one of the largest contaminants of drinking water,” Weir River Water System Managing Director/Superintendent Russell Tierney told the commissioners.
Following quarterly samples taken last April, he reported that WRWS remains in compliance with PFAS regulations. “We’re doing well.”
The date for full compliance has been moved from 2029 to 2031 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide more time for public water systems to develop and implement solutions to address PFAS contamination in drinking water.
“This study will show us what we need to do and invest in to be sure we [continue to] meet PFAS requirements,” Tierney said.
The $180,940 cost will be paid for from a PFAS litigation settlement related to a lawsuit concerning PFAS exposure that the town was able to join and benefit from.
Regarding the treatment plant capacity evaluation, APEX recently completed an initial evaluation of future water supply needs for the WRWS, including a potential connection to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. (See related story to come.)
The scope of services for the current phase includes site visits and records reviews, the actual treatment plant capacity evaluation and PFAS study, design, permitting, and constructability considerations, and estimated project costs.
The two studies are independent of each other but will both be completed by Environmental Partners Group.
Citizen Advisory Board to play more active role
Resident Karen Johnson urged the commissioners to bring the WRWS Citizen Advisory Board — consisting of residents of Hingham, Cohasset, and Hull — back into the loop.
“The CAB could play a role in serving as ambassadors for the water company’s good work and also as a sounding board for citizens concerned about water issues, [which was part of its initial charge],” she said.
Tierney said there will be a CAB meeting in August as an opportunity to reengage the group.
Commissioner William Ramsey emphasized, as he has in the past, the importance of WRWS and Veolia — which operates the water system — finding ways to minimize water main breaks now and in the future, especially looking toward the winter months.