Rising Seas Could Affect Island Ground Water

As climate change intensifies and the ocean around the Vineyard rises, scientists and Island officials are concerned that salt water could permeate through the Island’s ground water, threatening the potability of its only source of drinking water.

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Island Water Systems Win State Award

The Martha's Vineyard Airport and the Edgartown water systems were honored by the state Department of Environmental Protection this week.

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Proposed PFAS Limit Could Bring Change to Island Water Districts

A new proposal to crack down on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water has some Island water departments preparing for extensive testing and treatment of public water systems.

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State-Backed Testing Finds PFAS in Private Wells

Hazardous levels of PFAS have been found in a private well in West Tisbury following a testing program offered to the town through the Massachusetts DEP.

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Glimmering Symbol of a Proper Lake
Vineyard Gazette
One of the most alluring names of Martha’s Vineyard is that of Lake Tashmoo. Islanders and visitors alike enjoy the feeling of Tashmoo on their tongues - it has euphony and dignity and is like no other usual word. The lake itself, which might be called a great pond like other bodies of fresh water on the Vineyard but for its beauty and the beauty of its setting, is situated in the township of Tisbury near Vineyard Sound.
 
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Chlorination Key to Preventing Future Boil Water Order, Say Officials
Olivia Hull

The Oak Bluffs water district is working toward implementation of a permanent chlorination system at the Lagoon Pond well after samples taken there more than two weeks ago revealed high counts of bacteria. Temporary chlorination of the entire water supply is currently under way as a precautionary measure.
The contaminated Lagoon Pond well was shut down in June, bringing an end to a two-day town-wide boil water order.

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Oak Bluffs Lifts Boil Water Order, Shuts Down Town Well
Olivia Hull

The Oak Bluffs water district continued to apply a low dose of chlorine to the Farm Neck well Thursday morning, after a 48-hour boil water order from the state Department of Environmental Protection had been lifted.

Several samples of town water were found to be contaminated by a total coliform fecal indicator Monday morning.

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Boil Water Order Lifted; Lagoon Well Shut Down
Olivia Hull

The boil water order for Oak Bluffs was lifted Wednesday morning, and officials said they had shut down the offending Lagoon Pond well and started adding chlorine to another well closest to the town's water tank.

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Boil Water Order Extended in Oak Bluffs
Olivia Hull

A boil water order in Oak Bluffs was extended late Tuesday evening after test results from town water samples came back from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Two out of five water samples tested positive for fecal indicator bacteria, interim water superintendent Paul Provost said. The DEP is slated to send a representative to the Island Wednesday morning to meet with town and water district officials. The main source of the problem is the Lagoon Pond well.

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Boil Water Order Remains; Oak Bluffs Waits for Test Results
Olivia Hull

The town of Oak Bluffs remained under a boil water order Tuesday, as the water district waited for the mandatory 48-hour water sample testing to be completed.

Paul Provost, superintendent at the Oak Bluffs water district, said he was surprised that the Department of Environmental Protection imposed the boil water order Monday morning because while the water did contain a background coliform bacteria, the sample did not come up positive for fecal matter.

“The water is safe,” Mr. Provost said. “Just boil it, and that boiling is really a precaution. The state wants to protect all the Oak Bluffs customers like they do every other town. This is why we sampled, because if we do have a problem in the well, you want to know and you want to deal with it.”

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