Press Releases

LOWELL, MA – Yesterday, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), State Senator Jamie Eldridge, and State Representative Kate Hogan toured Hudson’s Chestnut Street PFAS Treatment System to highlight $1 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding that will be used to upgrade the plant’s PFAS remediation capabilities.

“Almost every community across the Third District has been impacted by PFAS contamination, and that’s particularly true here in Hudson. I’m grateful to the Town’s leadership that recognized the dangers of these forever chemicals early and have emerged as leaders in responding to contaminations,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “The use of federal American Rescue Plans for this critical project is exactly the kind of investment I had in mind when I cast my vote for this legislation last year, and I look forward to continuing our work alongside Senator Eldridge, Hudson leaders, and partners from across the region to address dangerous PFAS contaminations.”

In 2019, PFAS levels in the Town’s groundwater supply were first detected at levels above the federal Health Advisory Level. Since then, the town has been providing water with non-detectable levels of PFAS to consumers and deployed a temporary treatment facility while the current, permanent facility was designed and constructed.

“I am grateful to Congresswoman Lori Trahan for advocating that federal American Rescue Plan Act funds be dedicated to the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust, that provided critical funding to the Hudson Department of Public Works to build a new PFAS water treatment facility, to treat all of the water from Hudson's public wells," said State Senator Jamie Eldridge. “Congresswoman Trahan has been a leader in advocating that federal infrastructure bills include billions of dollars for water infrastructure, given the need of communities across Massachusetts. I have been very impressed with the work that the Hudson Department of Public Works has accomplished in the past few years to address PFAS contamination in the Hudson's water supply. I look forward to continuing my work with Congresswoman Lori Trahan and Representative Kate Hogan, who co-chaired the PFAS Task Force this legislative session, in eliminating PFAS from all water supplies, and all products, in the immediate years to come.”

“The Town of Hudson, led by the Hudson Select Board with implementation by DPW Director Eric Ryder, has acted impressively since discovering PFAS in its water supply in 2019. Over the past three years, the town has built comprehensive water filtration systems to ensure safe, quality water for Hudson residents,” said State Representative Kate Hogan. “I'm proud to work with my federal and state government delegates to bring needed funds to Hudson so that these efforts can continue.”

“On behalf of the Select Board, I’d like to extend our gratitude to Congresswoman Trahan for her support of the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) that is making a significant impact in Hudson as we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Town of Hudson Executive Assistant Thomas Gregory. “ARPA funds are providing the opportunity for Hudson and other communities across the country to make once-in-a-generation investments to water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure. The $1.2M ARPA subsidy to the reduce borrowing costs for the new PFAS water filtration plant will have a direct benefit to the rate payers in Hudson for many years to come.”

The Town of Hudson’s Chestnut Street Water Treatment Plant secured this ARPA funding through the Clean Water Trust’s ARPA Water Infrastructure Grants. In 2021, the Baker-Polito Administration and the Massachusetts Legislature allocated $100 million in federal ARPA funding for the Clean Water Trust to be used as grants for water infrastructure projects. In February 2022, the Trust’s Board of Trustees approved $66.8 million in grants to 52 projects beginning construction in 2022. The grants were delivered in the form of loan forgiveness for projects on the State Revolving Funds for Clean Water and Drinking.

As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Trahan has consistently advocated for increased safeguards against PFAS chemicals. Last year, she helped introduce and pass the PFAS Action Act, bipartisan legislation to clean up PFAS contaminations, help families who have been exposed to PFAS chemicals, and prevent future exposures. She also testified on the comprehensive federal PFAS legislation before the Massachusetts PFAS Interagency Task Force co-chaired by State Representative Kate Hogan.

Late last year, Trahan supported passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which contained $10 billion to address PFAS contaminations nationwide, and she continues to partner with Congressman Jim McGovern to remove PFAS chemicals from firefighting equipment.

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