76 Church Street PFAS Treatment Facility
At a glance
- What: notice of intent by the Auburn Water District for a PFAS treatment building at the Church Street wells (76 Church Street and Ridgewood Drive parcels).
- Zoning approvals: the Zoning Board of Appeals approved all three zoning requests on October 15, 2026 (parking variance, impervious-surface special permit, flood plain special permit), each with standard conditions.
- Where it stands (Conservation Commission): hearing opened October 14 and continued to October 28 at 7:15 p.m.; site walk to be arranged with the district (fenced well site).
The proposal
- About 3,950 sq ft building with four 12-ft carbon filters (lead-lag), chemical feed, electrical room and HVAC; PFAS is in the teens (ppt) against a limit of 4.
- Work in the 100-ft buffer and 200-ft riverfront area of Dark Brook. Storm water goes to a hydrodynamic separator and buried infiltration chambers sized for the 20-year storm, with riprap overflow to the brook. Silt fence and straw waddle for erosion control.
- Engineers from Tata & Howard (Katie Carrera and Juliet Burch, spelling approximate); Greg Wood represented the district.
Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA 26-19, October 15)
- Variance from the minimum parking requirement (6.3.2 J): no dedicated spaces; operators visit once or twice a day and the district office is across the street.
- Special permits for over 15% or 2,500 sq ft of impervious surface in aquifer zone two and for new construction in the flood plain overlay (Dark Brook runs along the eastern edge).
- Explained: wells exceed the EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS; four carbon vessels, chemical room, backwash tank to sewer; spent carbon goes to a state-approved facility. Bid early 2027, construction from summer 2027, about 18 months. Presenters: Katie Carrera and Matt Tibbetts; the chair Robert Tetro is an abutter.
- Chair's advice: Mass Pike plowing can throw slush and treated snow toward the site.
Concerns
- Filter change-out frequency unknown; spent carbon is thermally destroyed off site. A gravel wetland was ruled out for lack of space.
Discussion time
About 45 minutes across 2 meetings (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-15 - Zoning Board of Appeals | 30 |
| 2026-10-14 - Conservation Commission | 15 |
Log
- Planning Board Meeting - October 26, 2026 - Posted agenda (read 2026-10-23) lists a site plan hearing for the water treatment facility at 76 Church Street, plus a continued parking-related site plan hearing at 512 Washington Street and one ANR plan. The Conservation Commission continues its hearing October 28 (Conservation Commission Meeting - October 28, 2026). No transcript yet.
- 2026-10-15 - Zoning Board of Appeals - Three zoning approvals granted (parking variance, impervious-surface and flood plain special permits).
- 2026-10-14 - Conservation Commission - Presented; continued to October 28.