Town of Maynard Water Department Awarded $2.3 Million in Grant Funding for Improvements and Water Treatment

MAYNARD — Town Administrator Greg Johnson and Department of Public Works Director Justin DeMarco are pleased to announce that the Maynard Water and Sewer Department has been awarded $2.3 million in grant funding to advance critical improvements to the Town’s water treatment systems.

The grant was awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) through the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) program, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

This investment will allow the Town to proactively address emerging contaminants, including Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), at the Old Marlboro Road (OMR) well field and through upgrades at the Town’s Water Treatment Plant. PFAS, sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals,” are increasingly regulated, and this work positions the Town to meet future state and federal standards rather than waiting for exceedances to occur.

While these improvements will primarily target PFAS removal, the upgraded treatment processes are also expected to reduce naturally occurring iron and manganese. For some residents, this will help lessen water discoloration. However, the Town recognizes that other causes of discoloration—such as aging infrastructure—require separate, ongoing investments.

Planned Next Steps

Grant-supported activities will include:

• Bench-scale testing at the Old Marlboro Road well field to evaluate treatment feasibility.
• Pilot-scale testing over 8 to 10 months, followed by a report identifying the most effective treatment process for OMR.
• Preliminary design of a new OMR Water Treatment Plant and exploration of potential new water sources.

These steps align with the Town’s Water Master Plan and represent a significant step toward ensuring reliable, high-quality water service that addresses both immediate and long-term needs.

“We are grateful for this funding, which allows us to take a proactive approach to addressing PFAS while also supporting our broader goals of improving water quality and capacity for the community,” said Director DeMarco.

The Town of Maynard thanks Senator Jamie Eldridge and Representative Kate Hogan for their support in securing this grant.

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