Barnstable Town Councilors Told Fire Academy Will be Cleaned Up

CCB MEDIA PHOTO
Barnstable Town Hall.

HYANNIS – In his first encounter with Barnstable Town Council since becoming Barnstable County Administrator in February, Jack Yunits said that he is committed to cleaning up pollution at the county firefighter training academy.

The academy, located on Mary Dunn Road, has affected two of the town’s wells and has led to a water quality health advisory being issued by the town after contaminants found in the water were not up to EPA standards.

In his address to selectmen last month, Yunits said the academy will be professionally run to make sure no contaminants are used and cameras located onsite.

“I’m committed to working with the town to try and find a new water source for Barnstable,” said Yunits. “We can start with county property and work our way to a final solution so that you know you have a surplus of good clean water going forward. We are committed to cleaning out the fire academy site.”

Several chemicals were found in the town’s wells near the fire academy last year, including PFOS and PFOA which are foams used in firefighting.

Over $770,000 has been spent on a water filtration system by the town to successfully treat the water at the affected wells.

“We’re dealing with a difficult issue because we’re dealing with a source of contamination that was probably not known to the public when it was being used so readily for the last half century, but its left us with an enigma that we have to try to figure out very quickly, but we will do that,” said Yunits.

By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter