PFAS ("per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances") are a family of manufactured chemicals used for decades in nonstick, waterproof, and stain-resistant products, and in some firefighting foams. They break down extremely slowly in the environment, which is why they're nicknamed "forever chemicals," and why they now show up in trace amounts in water systems across the country — including at higher-than-average levels in one of Norwell's three well fields.
Every water utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report listing every contaminant it tested for, the detected range, and the legal limit. The most useful column is usually the one comparing your utility's result to the health-based goal, not just the legal limit — those two numbers aren't always the same thing. If a standard was exceeded during the year, the utility is also required to issue a separate public notice, which is worth reading alongside the annual report.
If your home is on a private well rather than town water, none of the municipal testing above applies to you directly. Massachusetts DEP recommends private well owners test independently, since well water isn't subject to Safe Drinking Water Act monitoring requirements.
Meeting a legal limit isn't the same as being contaminant-free, and in Norwell's case, one well field (Washington Street) currently isn't meeting the state's PFAS6 limit at all. The state and federal governments set Maximum Contaminant Levels based on what's feasible and affordable to treat at a system-wide scale — not necessarily the threshold with zero individual health risk. Households with young children, pregnant family members, or immunocompromised individuals often choose to filter regardless of a utility's compliance status.
In general terms, two filtration approaches address most of what shows up in Norwell's testing data:
Effective against chlorine taste and odor, many disinfection byproducts, and PFAS compounds when properly sized — this is the same technology Norwell used to bring the South Street plant's PFAS levels to zero. Common in pitcher filters, faucet-mount units, and whole-house systems, though effectiveness depends heavily on the specific carbon media and contact time.
The most thorough option for PFAS, nitrates, and a broad range of dissolved contaminants. Typically installed under a kitchen sink for drinking and cooking water specifically.
A free household water test is the easiest way to figure out whether filtration makes sense for your specific home — and which of Norwell's three well fields is actually feeding your tap.