Board advises retest after arsenic slightly exceeds EPA standard at 210 Gardner Road

The Town of Hubbardston Board of Health reviewed a home water test for a property at 210 Gardner Road that showed arsenic at 0.01666 mg per liter, above the EPA primary standard cited in the discussion of 0.010 mg/L. Board members recommended the buyer or seller run the tap water for several minutes and then retest before pursuing treatment options.

"That was the result, but the specification is actually 0.010," the Chair said while reviewing the test result. Members described a stepwise approach: (1) retest after running water to clear stagnant lines, (2) if arsenic remains above the standard, consider validated treatment options such as reverse-osmosis point-of-use systems, activated alumina filters, or ion-exchange resins, and (3) seek additional guidance from state or local water authorities if needed.

Board members asked that the realtor or sender forward the full lab report and any chain-of-custody or sampling notes so the board can provide clearer advice. The Chair and other members noted the reading was “not by much,” recommended retesting as the immediate next step, and suggested staff compile resources on treatment costs and options for the buyer.

No enforcement action was taken at the meeting; board members treated the item as a technical consultation for a pending home sale and said formal regulatory steps would follow only if confirmatory testing and public-health thresholds required it.