Notice: Tests Show High PFAS in NSMS/NSHS Drinking Water

Dear Parents, Staff, and Community Members,

As you may know, NSPS supplies its own drinking water to our staff and students. We are considered a public water system and are licensed by the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH). Recently, public water systems were required to test drinking water for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The tests showed more PFAS in the water than is allowed by Rhode Island law. 

The health and safety of our students and staff is our top priority. We are sharing what we have learned about PFAS in our drinking water and what we are doing about it. 

What are PFAS? Where do they come from?

• Nearly everyone has a low level of PFAS in their blood.
• PFAS are chemicals that are found in many different products that are made to repel water, grease, or stains. 
• PFAS can enter the soil, air, and water from many sources and last for a long time. 

What were the test results?

• Rhode Island’s new PFAS compliance cap is 20 parts per trillion (ppt). 
• At NSMS/NSHS Well #1 was tested at 2 ppt 
• At NSMS/NSHS Well #2 was tested at 31 ppt
• The combined water intake from Well #1 and Well #2 averages 21 ppt
• We are 1 ppt over this limit and will remediate it.
• The results are listed in the attached public notice.
• For additional information, NSES’ water was tested on 5/22/2023 at 6.24 ppt, well below the 20 ppt maximum threshold.

What does this mean?

• Tests showed more PFAS in the water than is allowed by Rhode Island law. This is called an exceedance of a drinking water standard. 
• For very high levels of PFAS, RIDOH requires that people not drink the water. The level of PFAS in our drinking water is not high enough for RIDOH to require that people not drink it but we must, and will, remediate it. 
• However, long-term health effects could potentially result from consuming PFAS. See the attached public notice or health.ri.gov/pfas for more information.

Can drinking water be treated to lower PFAS levels?

• Yes, drinking water can be treated to lower PFAS levels.
• It is not possible to eliminate exposure to PFAS entirely because PFAS are present at low levels in many things in the environment. However, we can lower or remove PFAS from drinking water through targeted drinking water treatment efforts. 

What is NSPS doing about the PFAS?

• We are taking steps to lower the PFAS levels in our drinking water.
• NSPS is entering into a consent agreement with RIDOH. A consent agreement is legally binding and documents our plan of action to fix the PFAS levels by an achievable and realistic deadline.
• We are meeting with RIDOH’s scientists along with engineers to develop near-term measures before school opens as well as long-term remediation plans for Well #2. 
• I have been assured by RIDOH that federal funds will be made available to assist with remediation. 
• NSPS will provide regular updates about our progress. 

Where can I find more information?

• The attached public notice includes specific information about what PFAS are, where they come from, the test results for our school, and what steps we are taking.
• You can also learn more about PFAS from RIDOH at health.ri.gov/pfas. 

We are taking this matter very seriously and are working closely with RIDOH to finalize and get approval for a plan to fix the PFAS levels as soon as possible. We will share updates with you throughout this process.

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