Concord, NH – The state, town of Londonderry and Saint Gobain Performance Plastics have agreed to work together to extend a water main up High Range Road in Londonderry from Royal Lane north to Alexander Road, according to a news release from Attorney General John Formella.
Under the agreement, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation will pay approximately $1.71 million toward the project, holding up its obligations under a 2018 consent decree addressing PFAS contamination in the community.
The Town of Londonderry’s portion of the approximately $4.3 million in construction costs will be funded through the New Hampshire Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund, administered by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and the Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund Advisory Commission.
“This agreement is another important step in our efforts to hold Saint-Gobain accountable and assist Londonderry residents affected by PFAS contamination,” said Attorney General Formella. “We remain steadfast in our efforts to protect access to clean water for all Granite Staters.”
Installation of this section of water main will allow approximately 350 properties on the west side of High Range Road to be connected by Saint-Gobain to a community water system operated by Pennichuck Water Works. The water main will also facilitate additional community water system connections by homeowners on the east side of High Range Road if necessary, the release said.
Residents who are not eligible for a safe drinking water alternative from Saint-Gobain and whose residential private drinking well water has PFAS concentrations above one or more of the New Hampshire or EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) are encouraged to apply to receive reimbursement from the PFAS Removal Rebate Program for Private Wells up to $5,000 for the installation of a water treatment system design to remove PFAS or up to $10,000 for a service connection to a public water system, the release said.
Last July, Saint Gobain finished demolishing its Merrimack plant that was widely blamed for polluting the air and water with PFAS chemicals also called “forever chemicals.”
Saint-Gobain still has ongoing obligations. They continue to monitor groundwater in the area, and if any new contamination above state standards is found that can be traced to their facility, they are required to provide either a connection to a public water system or a treatment system for those properties. Additionally, work is ongoing on soil and groundwater remediation around the former facility and nearby properties, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
So, while this latest agreement addresses the largest outstanding need for affected homes, additional monitoring and cleanup efforts remain.
Rep. Wendy Thomas, D-Merrimack, said, “This agreement is a long-overdue step toward addressing the devastating impact of PFAS contamination on families in Londonderry. For years, residents have lived with uncertainty about the safety of their drinking water, something no one in New Hampshire should ever have to question.”
Thomas and others actively advocated for the people impacted by Saint Gobain’s pollution.
“While I am encouraged to see progress, let’s be clear: this is happening because impacted communities refused to stay silent and demanded accountability. Saint-Gobain’s contribution is not a favor, it is an obligation.
“Connecting hundreds of homes to clean, reliable public water is critical, and I appreciate the coordination between state agencies and local leaders to move this project forward. At the same time, we must ensure that no affected household is left behind, especially those who may not qualify for direct connection but are still living with contaminated wells.
“The availability of state-supported rebates for filtration systems and water connections is important, but navigating these programs can be complicated. We must do more to ensure residents are aware of their options and can access them without unnecessary barriers.
“This moment underscores a broader truth: PFAS contamination is not just a Londonderry issue, it is a statewide challenge that demands sustained leadership, stronger protections, and long-term investment in clean water infrastructure.
“Granite Staters deserve nothing less than safe, clean drinking water. I will continue working with my colleagues, state agencies, and local communities to make that a reality for every resident,” Thomas said.
According to the state, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was first detected in a tap water sample at the Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics facility at 701 Daniel Webster Highway in Merrimack, in 2016, but as far back as 1986 a company called Chemfab operated fabric coating and cast-film equipment there, using PFOA and other PFAS.
Saint-Gobain purchased the facility in 2002 and continued to manufacture coated textiles and films using chemical dispersions that contained PFOA and other PFAS. The manufacturing of coated textiles at the facility involves dipping fabric into a mix of chemicals (called aqueous dispersions) and then drying or curing the fabric in tall, specially designed ovens. Prior to 2021, exhaust from the ovens passed through a network of ducts before release to the atmosphere through several stacks located on the roof.
In Fall 2022, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics began implementation of multiple phases of work to permanently provide safe drinking water to hundreds of properties within portions of the towns of Bedford, Hudson, Litchfield, Londonderry, and Merrimack, New Hampshire that are located inside the 2018 Consent Decree Outer Boundary. This included design work for waterline extensions and connections to municipal water where existing water mains are present, as well as the installation of Point-of Entry Treatment (POET) systems, according to the state.
More information about the state’s response to the pollution by the state Department of Environmental Services and where you can seek more details can be found here: https://www.pfas.des.nh.gov/pfas-occurrences/saint-gobain-performance-plastics