The Factory That Defined — and Contaminated — a City
For much of the 20th century, General Electric was Pittsfield. The company’s transformer division operated a sprawling manufacturing complex in this Berkshire County city of about 43,000 people, employing thousands and driving the local economy. GE was Pittsfield’s largest employer, its economic engine, its identity.
GE was also Pittsfield’s largest polluter.
From the 1930s through the 1970s, the facility used massive quantities of polychlorinated biphenyls — PCBs — as insulating fluid in electrical transformers and capacitors. PCBs were dumped, spilled, and discharged into the Housatonic River. They contaminated Silver Lake, which once served as part of the city’s drinking water supply. They saturated the soil on and around the plant property. They spread downstream for miles.
What Are PCBs and Why Do They Matter?
PCBs were banned in 1979 under the Toxic Substances Control Act, but they don’t break down in the environment. They persist in soil, sediment, and water for decades. PCBs bioaccumulate in fish and wildlife, and they’re classified as probable human carcinogens by the EPA and IARC.
Health effects linked to PCB exposure include:
- Liver damage and liver cancer
- Immune system suppression
- Thyroid disruption
- Neurological effects, including developmental delays in children
- Skin conditions (chloracne)
- Reproductive effects
In Pittsfield, PCB contamination is everywhere — in river sediment, in floodplain soil, in residential yards, in fish tissue. For decades, fish consumption advisories have warned residents not to eat fish from the Housatonic River.
The Superfund Cleanup
The GE Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site was listed on the EPA’s National Priorities List (Superfund) and has been the subject of one of the most complex and long-running environmental cleanups in New England.
Key milestones:
- 1997: EPA issued an Administrative Order on Consent requiring GE to investigate and clean up the contamination
- 1999-2000: A consent decree was negotiated between GE, EPA, the state of Massachusetts, and the city of Pittsfield. GE agreed to a cleanup valued at hundreds of millions of dollars
- Early 2000s: Cleanup of the most contaminated areas within Pittsfield began — including the former plant site, Hill 78 (a PCB disposal area), and contaminated residential properties
- Silver Lake: PCB-contaminated sediments were removed from the former water supply reservoir. The lake is no longer used for drinking water
- Housatonic River — Rest of River: The downstream cleanup plan was debated for over 15 years. The “Rest of River” cleanup involves removing contaminated sediment from miles of the Housatonic, from Pittsfield south through several downstream communities
The Rest of River cleanup plan, finalized by EPA, calls for a combination of sediment removal, capping, and monitored natural recovery. It’s expected to take decades and cost over a billion dollars.
Pittsfield’s Drinking Water Today
Here’s the important distinction: Pittsfield’s current drinking water supply is not contaminated with PCBs.
The city switched away from Silver Lake decades ago. Pittsfield now draws its drinking water from surface water reservoirs in the hills east of the city — Ashley Lake, Farnham Reservoir, Cleveland Reservoir, and others. These sources are in protected watersheds and are not affected by the GE contamination.
The Pittsfield Water Department treats the water and monitors it regularly. Annual water quality reports show the supply meets all federal and state drinking water standards.
However, the broader environmental contamination still affects residents:
- Residential yards in some neighborhoods were contaminated and required soil removal
- Fish from the Housatonic River remain unsafe to eat due to PCB levels
- Floodplain soil along the river contains PCBs that can be mobilized during flood events
- Vapor intrusion from contaminated soil has been a concern at some properties near the former plant
The Ongoing Fight
Pittsfield’s relationship with GE contamination is complicated. The company provided decades of good-paying jobs. It also left behind a mess that will take generations to fully clean up.
Community advocacy groups have pushed for more aggressive cleanup standards and broader health monitoring. The downstream communities — including Lenox, Lee, and Great Barrington — have fought for comprehensive sediment removal rather than leaving contamination in place.
The Housatonic River cleanup remains one of the highest-profile Superfund actions in the Northeast. Progress has been slow, legal battles have been frequent, and the affected community’s patience has been tested repeatedly.
What Pittsfield Residents Should Know
- Your tap water is safe if you’re on the municipal supply. The city’s water comes from protected reservoirs, not the Housatonic River or Silver Lake.
- Don’t eat fish from the Housatonic River. The PCB fish consumption advisory remains in effect and applies to all species.
- If your property was identified for soil cleanup, verify it was completed. The GE consent decree required remediation of contaminated residential properties. Contact the EPA or the Massachusetts DEP if you have questions about your property’s status.
- Private well users in the area should ensure their wells have been tested. While the primary contamination pathway is surface soil and sediment, groundwater near the former plant site may also be affected.
If you’re concerned about your water quality in Pittsfield or the Berkshire County area, a certified water treatment professional can test your water and recommend appropriate treatment options.
Sources: EPA Region 1 Superfund program (GE-Pittsfield/Housatonic River Site), Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Pittsfield Water Department annual reports, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)