devens (brac)
DRINKING WATER
The Army is committed to ensuring quality drinking water is provided to its Soldiers, family members, and civilians. Proactive sampling is performed by the Army on its drinking water systems and coordination with other purveyors of drinking water to installations occurs to ensure PFOS/PFOA remains below 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOS and PFOA (individually or combined) on or off the installation. While not an enforceable regulatory standard, this level represents a concentration in drinking water that is not expected to produce adverse health effects if the water is consumed over an entire lifetime.
Status: The Army no longer owns or operates a drinking water system at this closed installation. Current property occupants receive water supplied by the local utility.
CLEANUP ACTIONS
The Army follows the federal cleanup law, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980 (also known as “Superfund”), and long-standing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations for all chemicals in its cleanup program, including PFAS. In collaboration with federal and state regulatory agencies and interested stakeholders, the Army follows the CERCLA process to investigate a release resulting from Army activities and to assess the appropriate cleanup actions based on risk to human health and the environment.
When the Army identifies that it has impacted drinking water above 70 parts per trillion for PFOS/PFOA (individually or combined) on or off an installation, it takes appropriate actions to provide alternate water and ensure drinking water levels are promptly reduced (for example, by providing bottled water, shutting down wells, installing treatment systems or connecting to municipal water).
Final reports, points of contact, and/or site specific web links will be updated on this page as cleanup actions progress.
CERCLA is a complex, multi-phase process that provides a consistent, science-based approach across the nation for cleanup and may take years to complete. Read more about CERCLA and the phased approach here
CERCLA INFORMATION
CERCLA Phase: Remedial Investigation (RI) underway
DOCUMENTS
General Information on the PFAS response is available at:
https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Projects-Topics/Former-Fort-Devens-Environmental-Cleanup/
For more information, contact: Mr. Richard Ramsdell
Office phone number: (703) 830-8663
Office e-mail address: richard.c.ramsdell2.civ@army.mil
Last reviewed/updated: 12/28/23