A team of researchers from across the globe set sail this week on a groundbreaking expedition to understand large pockets of fresh groundwater that sit underneath the ocean floor just south of Martha’s Vineyard.

Michael​​ Silvia, the Oak Bluffs Water District superintendent, told the select board last month that if changes aren’t made, the town will not be able to add new homes or other buildings to the water system in the coming years. 

As climate change intensifies and the ocean around the Vineyard rises, scientists and Island officials are concerned that salt water could permeate through the Island’s ground water, threatening the potability of its only source of drinking water.

A new proposal to crack down on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water has some Island water departments preparing for extensive testing and treatment of public water systems.

Hazardous levels of PFAS have been found in a private well in West Tisbury following a testing program offered to the town through the Massachusetts DEP.

The Oak Bluffs water district is working toward implementation of a permanent chlorination system at the Lagoon Pond well after samples taken there more than two weeks ago revealed high counts of bacteria. Temporary chlorination of the entire water supply is currently under way as a precautionary measure.
The contaminated Lagoon Pond well was shut down in June, bringing an end to a two-day town-wide boil water order.

The Oak Bluffs water district continued to apply a low dose of chlorine to the Farm Neck well Thursday morning, after a 48-hour boil water order from the state Department of Environmental Protection had been lifted.

Several samples of town water were found to be contaminated by a total coliform fecal indicator Monday morning.

The boil water order for Oak Bluffs was lifted Wednesday morning, and officials said they had shut down the offending Lagoon Pond well and started adding chlorine to another well closest to the town's water tank.