John Mack - Newtown Supervisor
Newtown Artesian Water Publishes Q3 2019 PFAS Test Results

Newtown Artesian Water Publishes Q3 2019 PFAS Test Results

After the Newtown Artesian Water Company (NAWC) sent a letter to residents in February 2019, that PFAS Definition - perfluorinated compounds - were detected in Newtown's water, Supervisor Mack requested that Mr. Dan Angove, NAWC General Manager, return to report on the situation. Mr. Angove complied and presented the Q1 2019 test results at the May 8, 2019, Board of Supervisors public meeting (read "Update on PFAS in Newtown's Water Supply").

At that meeting, Mr. Angove promised that NAWC would test Newtown's water sources for PFAS every quater and publish the results on its website. The 2019 third quarter (Q3) results are now available. I created the following charts to show the levels of PFAS in relation to different Minimum Contamination Levels (MCLs) and the trends.

There are several conflicting standards for what is considered the MCLs for perfluorinated compounds in drinking water. In April 2019, PA Sen. Maria Collett, D-12, of Lower Gwynedd, introduced S.B. 581, which would create an interim drinking water standard for four types of PFAS at 10 parts per trillion.
Q4 2018 through Q3 2019 PFAS Levels in Wells 14 and 18. Out of abundance of caution, NAWC is using water from Wells 14 and 18 exclusively for "Emergency Services"; e.g., fire hydrant use.
Lower MCLs Are Needed Say Experts

There are several conflicting standards for what is considered safe levels for perfluorinated compounds in drinking water. Breana Hashman, a staff scientist and program manager with the Clean Water Action/Fund, an environmental advocacy group recently wrote an opinion piece in the Bucks County Courier Times in which she said:

"Science may not yet be able to predict an individual’s health risks from exposure to PFAS, but in the interim, we have a pretty good idea what communities could potentially face, based on epidemiology studies from around the world. These studies have shown that communities with long-term chronic PFAS exposure from contaminated drinking water tend to have higher than national rates for a number of chronic or life-altering diseases.

"This is enough evidence to warrant interim measures for these communities, such as temporary lowered maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for PFAS in drinking water that were enacted by municipal water authorities in Warrington, Warminister and Horsham," said Hashman.
Further Reading

Posted on 28 Oct 2019, 10:27 - Category: Environment