Chilmark is looking to rectify a longstanding problem with two town water wells.

The wells are located at the fire station and the EMS station and have been offering inconsistent water drinking quality for approximately two years, according to the town.

The select board met with Dave Schwoch and Jaqueline Noël, owners of Island Water Source, in early September to discuss the high presence of red clay in the water, the acidity levels and the dangers of rising copper levels when the water is unfiltered.

Recommendations to install various systems and implement flush techniques were presented to the board, which approved the approximately $5,500 for the project.

“We have the money, we have a plan, we have pink or red water over there so I think we really need to do this,” select board chair Marie Larsen said at the Sept. 16 meeting. “I think it’s important to start right away.”

One of the systems recommended is an alum-injection one, which will assist with removing the clay from the well. A version of the system was implemented in December 2024 but was stopped earlier this year.

“Alum injected into the water causes clay to clump into masses called flocs, Island Water Source wrote in the proposal. As the alum dissolves, it releases positively charged aluminum ions that bind to the negatively charged clay particles. This process, known as coagulation or flocculation, reduces the clay’s ability to stay suspended.”

Island Water Source also recommended diligent maintenance of the well using specialized equipment such as a NuWell 220 flush, a liquid polymer that disperses clay.

The proposal also included installing a waterline between the fire station and the EMS building. A waterline already exists, but it is lined with red clay, made of copper and too large for the small amount of water pressure, making it easier for unwanted sediments and material to filter through. This portion of the proposal was rejected by the select board.

“If things work out as we hope they do, it wouldn’t be necessary,” select board member Matt Poole said.

“The hope is the more water we use, eventually it’ll clear itself out,” added select board member Jeffrey Maida. “The hope is to not have to spend the money to drill a new well.”