Soil Samples Test Positive for Elevated Levels of Arsenic at Bridgewater’s Rainbow’s End Property

BRIDGEWATER — Town Manager Michael Dutton reports that soil samples taken at the site of the former Rainbow’s End playground have tested positive for elevated levels of arsenic.

On Thursday, Oct. 29, the Town of Bridgewater was notified that the initial testing done at the site indicated high levels of arsenic. The results met a threshold that required a two-hour notification to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, with which Town of Bridgewater engineers complied.

The levels were enough to trigger an Immediate Response Action (IRA), which is a mandatory risk reduction measure through MassDEP. As part of the IRA, fencing will be installed around the affected area.  

The Massachusetts Department of Correction, which owns the plot of land that the playground sat on, tore down the playground structures in July 2019. The Town of Bridgewater then hired an engineering firm to test the soil in the area before deciding what may be built next at the site.

The Town has been in close contact with the Department of Correction since the testing results came back last week, and both sides have been cooperating to resolve the issue.

“We immediately contacted MassDEP once the elevated levels of arsenic were discovered, and both the Town of Bridgewater and the Massachusetts Department of Correction are committed to complying with all regulations relating to the cleanup of the area,” Town Manager Dutton said.

The Town will be releasing additional information once engineers from MassDEP complete further testing at the site. 

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