The Sherborn Police Department has been awarded official Certification from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission.  This great accomplishment marks a milestone towards department accreditation from the Commission.

The Commission notes to Chief Galvin: "Achieving Certification demonstrates your Department's commitment to delivering an exemplary level of police service in your community.  As you know, it is a lot of hard work and department-wide effort.  We commend the Sherborn Police Department for its accomplishments and applaud you personally on your leadership role in the process".

Congratulations to the stellar team at the Police Department for achieving this great milestone (and express appreciation for their daily work keeping the Sherborn community safe and welcoming).

The public water supply wells serving Town Hall, the Library, the Police Station, and the Sherborn Community Center have exceeded the PFAS6 MCL drinking water standard, for the period July through September 2023.

What does this mean? 

This is not an emergency.  Although this is not an emergency, as our customer, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we did and are doing to correct this situation. 

On October 2, 2020, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) promulgated a drinking water regulation and maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 20 nanograms per liter (ng/L) for the sum of six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (called PFAS6). See our latest results in the table below.

Our results are above the MCL for PFAS6. This is the quarterly average of three months’ of PFAS6 results. To comply with the drinking water regulation, we must provide you with this public notice. An MCL is the maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water which is delivered to any user of a public water system. 

Some people who drink water containing PFAS6 in excess of the MCL may experience certain adverse effects. These could include effects on the liver, blood, immune system, thyroid, and fetal development. These PFAS6 may also elevate the risk of certain cancers. 

For more information on PFAS, see the links below. 

What is PFAS6? 

PFAS6 includes perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA). PFAS are man-made chemicals that have been used in the manufacturing of certain fire-fighting foams, moisture and stain resistant products, and other industrial processes.

What is being done?

•    Bottled water has been provided for consumption at all municipal buildings serviced by this public water supply well (including Town Hall, the Library, the Police Station, and the Sherborn Community Center).

•    The Town is investigating alternatives for additional water treatment to remove PFAS6.

•    We continue to collect regular water quality samples to monitor PFAS6 levels and will regularly report results.

Steps you can take to reduce your intake

•    For older children and adults the 20 ng/L value is applicable to a lifetime of consuming the water.  For these groups, shorter duration exposures present less risk. 

•    The use of bottled water for consumption will reduce/eliminate exposure.

•    In most situations the water can safely be used for washing foods, brushing teeth, bathing, and washing hands.  The pathway for exposure to PFAS6 is through ingestion.

•    Boiling the water will not destroy PFAS.

•    If you have specific health concerns regarding exposure, you should see the Centers for Disease Control’s link below and consult with a health professional, such as your doctor.

Where can I get additional information?

•    MassDEP Fact Sheet - Questions and Answers for Consumers: https://www.mass.gov/media/185435

•    CDC ATSDR Information on PFAS for consumers and health professionals: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/index.html

•    Massachusetts Department of Public Health information about PFAS in Drinking Water: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/per-and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas-in-drinking-water

•    Massachusetts Water Works Association PFAS6 Information for Consumers: www.safewatermass.org

Sean Killeen                             Jeremy Marsette

Director of Public Works                     Town Administrator

508-651-7878                             508-651-7850

The 2016 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) in Massachusetts (“MS4 Permit” or “the Permit”) took effect on July 1, 2018. The Permit was subsequently modified on December 7, 2020. The MS4 Permit conditions the operation, regulation, and management of MS4s in subject Massachusetts municipalities.   As a requirement of the permit a draft Phosphorus Control Plan (PCP) had been developed with the goal to reduce nutrient loading from stormwater runoff to receiving water bodies.

Draft Phosphorus Control Plan

Presentation by AECOM on MS4 and Draft PCP

It is with great enthusiasm that we release the Sustainable Sherborn Climate Action and Resilience Plan. This plan is the result of tireless effort on the part of our Climate Resilience Working Group, Town staff, and all of YOU. It represents a shared commitment to work together to create a more sustainable and resilient future for Sherborn and our surrounding region. 

Climate change presents an unprecedented threat to all of us and we all have a role to play in reducing our contributions, in the form of greenhouse gas emissions, and in preparing our community for the anticipated impacts of climate change, some of which we are already beginning to experience.

This plan describes our existing assets and efforts to date from which we can continue to build momentum around climate action. It outlines a set of goals and specific actions that we can begin implementing now to meet the urgent need for decarbonizing our buildings and vehicles, conserving and restoring our valuable natural resources, protecting our most vulnerable from climate impacts, and creating a culture of sustainable resource consumption throughout our community. Accompanying this plan is a Residential Climate Action Toolkit with specific guidance on actions YOU can each take in your daily lives to support these efforts. We are beyond grateful to the hard-working Town staff and volunteers and to the extremely engaged community as a whole, who have all shaped this plan. And we are ready to continue to work together with everyone to implement, assess, update, and continuously improve in Sherborn’s climate action journey. Please join us!

Sustainable Sherborn Climate Action and Resilience Plan

Jeremy Marsette (Town Administrator)

Dorothea Von Herder (Town Sustainability Coordinator)

The Sherborn Town Forest Committee would like to remind everyone that no unauthorized motorized vehicles are allowed anywhere on Town Forest Lands.  This includes E Bikes!!

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