REACHing for PFAS solutions: how two communities responded to drinking water contamination

Across the USA, communities have discovered per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) contamination of water supplies, and local responses have varied widely in terms of community involvement and the reaction of government agencies. This research aims to better understand the factors that influence community responses to PFAS contamination by comparing the experiences of two communities impacted by such contamination, Pease Tradeport in Portsmouth, NH, and Hyannis MA. Using 40 in-depth semi-structured qualitative interviews with community members from the Pease Tradeport and Hyannis, we compare two cases of impacts and responses to PFAS contamination and their involvement in PFAS health research. We found differences in the extent and types of local activism, broader awareness of local PFAS contamination, and the responses of town, regional, and state agencies. Community experiences were strongly influenced by the source of PFAS contamination and the activity of local and state legislators. These case studies show how the work of a fairly small number of residents can generate important knowledge and contribute to local and national outcomes, including drinking water regulation and medical guidelines. However, structural barriers exist to community action, often related to environmental justice inequities; similar levels of community action may lead to different outcomes. By investigating how affected parties discover and act on contamination, how government agencies respond to contamination, influences on the financing of cleanup, and identifying effective advocacy approaches, these results can be used to inform and guide other affected communities when navigating the discovery of environmental contamination.