Local Health District Inquiry Prompts

State Clarification On Well Testing For Pesticides

By John Voket

An inquiry by Newtown Health District Director Donna Culbert to the state Department of Health has resulted in a statewide clarification of policy regarding the testing of well water for possible pesticide contamination. The concern on Ms Culbert’s part was prompted June 26, after The Bee notified her about a statement made by a DPH staff member inferring all state residents should test their wells.

The original statement was made by Sharee Rusnak, epidemiologist for the Connecticut Department of Public Health, following a presentation at the last DPH Commissioner’s Semi-Annual meeting, which Ms Culbert attended.

Ms Rusnak was referencing data from the City of Stamford, which found the pesticides chlordane and dieldrin in a surprisingly high number of private wells from various parts of the city.

As reported in the Stamford Advocate, Ms Rusnak’s said: “We believe that this problem in Stamford could reach much further than Stamford itself and it could exist even beyond Fairfield County. In the past year or so we’ve been sort of getting the word out to other health departments throughout the state to let them know that this exists and to let residents know they should test their wells.”

Once that statement was brought to Ms Culbert’s attention, she immediately referred the question to the DPH in an e-mail.

“Right now, our local media are asking me about DPH’s directive to health directors to urge all residents to test for chlordane and dieldrin,” stated Ms Culbert. “I was fascinated by the Stamford experience as related to us at the semi-annual; however, I think caution should be used when advising (or urging) residents to test for potential contaminants.”

She then asked if the DPH was issuing any type of clarifying a statement.

On July 2, Brian Toal, supervising epidemiologist for the DPH, issued a memo to all municipal and regional health directors providing “some background on a potential private well water contamination issue in Connecticut.”

“The City of Stamford has found the pesticides chlordane and dieldrin in a surprisingly high number of private wells from various parts of the city,” Mr Toal wrote. “The State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health (DPH), is currently looking at this data, as well as data available from other parts of Connecticut, to see what implications this may have for wells around the state.”

Referencing the Advocate report about Ms Rusnak’s comments, Mr Toal acknowledged that her “statement has been inferred by some as new DPH guidance to local health departments and private well owners that all private wells should be tested for chlordane and dieldrin.

“This is not the case since DPH has not issued new guidance nor recommended that all wells should be tested for these pesticides at this time,” Mr Toal continued. “We are still in the process of looking at the issue and will develop guidance when we have adequate information about potential risks statewide. However, we do not want to discourage residents from testing their wells for any contaminants including pesticides as testing may be useful in some situations.”

The state official goes on to recommend that well owners test for pesticides if nearby land had agricultural use in the past or if there are high nitrate concentrations more than five milligrams per liter (mg/l). Additionally, if a local director of health feels there is reason to suspect the presence of pesticides in a private well, they can require or recommend testing at the time of the new well construction, Mr Toal wrote in his July 2 memo.

“To assist homeowners in evaluating the need for testing, local health departments may also be able to provide information on properties in their community that have had contamination previously. Finally, if a private well homeowner is aware of pesticide treatment on their property for termites prior to 1987, then testing for chlordane and dieldrin is recommended,” Mr Toal concluded.

Ms Culbert said that while some Newtown wells have had previous contamination, it was not from pesticides. Nonetheless, she said that “well owners should be aware they are drinking from the water table — and should monitor their well water periodically.”

She said periodically can be as frequently as annually, but it should be considered every five years.

“An initial test for any home owner who hasn’t performed one is advised,” Ms Culbert said. “And they should begin by testing for basic chemistry and bacteria. Then, if the nitrate level is above 5mg per liter, it’s a trigger to consider testing further — and if retesting is under consideration, we suggest sampling for pesticides.”