Chatham Launches $16.7 Million Water Plant to Combat PFAS

The $16.7 million project addresses a public health crisis that began in 2021 when PFAS, substances linked to cancer and immune system damage, were identified in the town’s water supply. To secure the facility against the corrosive nature of the treatment process, engineers integrated PENETRON ADMIX SB into the concrete tanks. The crystalline admixture was added to 1,728 cubic yards of concrete by Cape Cod Ready-Mix, creating a self-healing barrier for the base mats, columns, and structural slabs.

Richard Farmer, Eastern Regional Sales Manager for Penetron USA, noted that the longevity of such facilities depends on protecting embedded steel reinforcement from chemical attack. Because the admixture is NSF 61-certified, it remains safe for potable water applications while providing an impermeable seal against hydrostatic pressure. The new plant represents a critical infrastructure upgrade, replacing older methods with modern SCADA-monitored chemical systems and granular activated carbon filtration to ensure compliance with state environmental standards.