Date: Fri 20-Oct-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

Apple-Blossom-water-chemical

Full Text:

WITH PHOTO: A Neighborhood Tries To Live With Contaminated Water

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

Many are afraid. Some are poised to sue. One woman wonders if it caused brain

cancer in her son. But regardless of their individual stories, all residents

in the area of Apple Blossom Lane, Dogwood Terrace, and Prospect Drive are

waiting for answers and a permanent solution to the seemingly random

occurrence of chemical contaminants in well water that was first identified

more than two years ago.

One of the most severe cases of contamination of the approximately 30

documented thus far, is at the home of Donald and Loretta Ferris on Apple

Blossom Lane. In February of 1995, they received a letter telling them their

water contained unacceptably high levels of tetrachloroethylene, a man-made

substance that is widely used for dry cleaning of fabrics and for

metal-degreasing operations. A representative of the Department of

Environmental Protection retested the water at the end of the month, and on

March 16, a carbon filtration system was installed. Although they were then

able to wash dishes and clothes, and take showers in the filtered well water,

they continued to receive bottled water for cooking and drinking.

"On October 3, I got a letter - addressed to James Ferris and my name is

Donald - with results of a July 25 water test [of the filtered water.] The

results indicated '3.7 ug per liter of tetrachloroethylene...The State of

Connecticut action level is 200 parts per billion' - what does this mean ?,"

asked Mr Ferris. The letter concluded, based on these results, the water was

now potable.

Two days after receiving that letter, the DEP analyst came to the house for

another water sample because a September test had shown the presence of a

second substance, which did not show up in the water between filters, but

after the filters when sampled at one outside tap.

Mr Ferris, who has asked for written test results after each of the seven

water tests, has received only two letters thus far. "I'm not blaming any

particular person, but until I feel safe, myself, I'm not going to drink the

water," said Mr Ferris. He will be reassured when a series of sampling

indicates the water does not pose a health risk. "I won't be satisfied with

just one testing of the well because of the fluctuation of the water table. It

can show up one month and not another - this is a problem, this is a major

problem."

Mr Ferris, like many of his neighbors, feels the state and town have been

"very secretive" about the problem. He found out about the contamination from

a neighbor and decided he should call the Health Department and request a

water test. "I would think the Board of Health in Newtown would send out an

advisory letter for residents to use bottled water," he said.

"If a neighbor hadn't told us," said Mrs Ferris, "we would never have known."

Complex Issue

The issue is complex for a variety of reasons. The DEP began testing

residential wells in 1993 when tetrachloroethylene (also known as

perchloroethylene or PCE) was identified at the former industrial site of

Insilco, where Dual-Lite now operates on Simm Lane. But after extensive study,

the DEP determined "it is technically impossible for the ground water that was

impacted at Dual-Lite to reach those wells," according to Maurice Hamel,

environmental analyst for the DEP's Property Transfer Program.

"We have a good understanding of what is going on at the Dual-Lite site and

residents couldn't get concentrations as high as we're seeing," said Mr Hamel.

"We now believe it was a residential or commercial property - possibly along

Route 25 or further up Apple Blossom Lane... The typical fellow cleaning his

lawn mower would not have had that amount of the chemical on hand."

PCE would have been used in a business that did dry cleaning, or cleaning of

industrial or auto mechanical parts, according to Environmental Analyst

Jonathan Goldman of the Potable Water Supply Group.

High levels of the contaminant have been found in a well previously used at

Lamp Crafter's site on South Main Street, he said, and this is being further

investigated by the DEP.

Another chemical, Methyl T-Butyl Ether (MTBE), a gasoline constituent, has

also been detected in some of the contaminated wells. But Mr Goldman said,

"these levels are typically at « part per billion or less - trace levels" and

are not considered a health risk. "Because of the very low levels we don't

consider that there's a gasoline plume that's impacting these wells at this

time.

"The big picture is PCE. That's really the big problem here," said Mr Goldman.

The affected area has been well defined through sampling of water, the analyst

said. Areas beyond the above mentioned roads, as well as a small stretch of

South Main Street, have shown no detectable amounts of the substance. But

within the area, "the contamination jumps and skips from well to well," he

said.

"Unfortunately we are unable to come up with good information on well

construction - they could be at different depths, or tapping different sets of

water-bearing fractures," he said. "It's difficult to explain how this moves

around."

No extraordinary changes occurred in the samples when the area experienced

drought conditions. "When we see variation, it's not varying that much," said

Mr Goldman. "They're subtle differences. And we're talking parts per billion."

The state has set a standard of 5 parts per billion as the "action" level, and

residents would need to have had one sample that reflected that amount in

order to receive bottled water or a filtration system.

Although Mr Goldman said action is taken at "a very conservative level," some

residents are concerned for their families' health. "So, my kids are supposed

to get slowly poisoned?" said one homeowner who has a detectable level of PCE

that is close to, but not quite at the state action level. "How close do you

have to be? Other residents don't even know about it. I'm waiting, waiting -

why am I waiting?"

Lack of Manpower

Newtown's Senior Sanitarian Martha Wright admits that the town simply does not

have the manpower to test all properties in the area on a regular basis. The

Health District staff realizes there are people on those streets who may not

yet have detectable amounts of PCE in their water, but who are concerned that

it is just a matter of time. "These might be people with small children," said

Mrs Wright. "We try to retest these wells at least once a year; if it's

detectable, more often."

"[PCE] is a fairly common pollutant," said the sanitarian. "One gallon could

go forever and ever because we are talking about parts per million - a minute

amount."

Most of the people in the affected area have been told that the long-term

solution will be to be hooked up to the town water supply. The homeowner will

incur no expense for this, however they will be expected to pay the water

fees.

Because the affected area is close to the public water supply, residents have

expressed concern that they may be hooked up to another contaminated source.

"It is far enough away from our well area that it should not pose a threat,"

said Kevin Moran, manager of United Water Connecticut. "We test our water

annually until something shows up - then the health department would require

testing more often. The water has been clean for years."

Mr Moran said the company routinely checks for 50 or 60 contaminants including

PCE. The last test was performed in July.

The only other "permanent" solution to the problem of contaminated wells would

be to install filtration systems, but the state grant would cover maintenance

and monitoring for just five years after installation, according to Mr

Goldman. The only way to determine effectiveness of the filter is through

monitoring, he added.

Homeowners are also concerned about how the situation will affect property

values. A few are under the impression the value of their homes will increase

after connection to the public water supply. But Assessor Mark DeVestern said

they have done no study that would confirm this.

And those who are near the contamination but who will not be included in the

permanent solution feel their property value is doomed. Especially once the

public is aware of the situation.

Health Issues

Far more than inconvenience or decrease in property value, residents are

worried about how exposure to and ingestion of PCE will affect their health.

Because a source has not been identified, it is impossible to determine how

long PCE has been in the well water.

Mary Zboray has lived on Prospect Drive for 20 years. She is conscious of what

she puts into her body and eats organic foods whenever possible. "Being a

`natural' person, I drink only water - no soda, no juice," she said.

Because she falls below the state action level for PCE, she is not provided

with bottled water. She has decided to buy her own for drinking, but cannot

afford the quantity necessary for cooking.

"Is it safe to use the water for everything?" she asked. "One of my sons had a

brain tumor... Could this have contributed to his illness?"

The fact sheet provided by the state, indicates "The US Department of Health

and Human Services has determined that tetrachloroethylene may reasonably be

anticipated to cause cancer." It also can "cause dizziness, sleepiness, and

other nervous system effects."

Oskar Berendsohn of Apple Blossom Lane suffered a "mysterious" illness last

winter with symptoms relating to the nervous system. He has done much research

on the situation on his street. And although no levels of PCE are currently

detected in his well water, "it could come to me at any time, or I could have

already had it at some point."

"I'm afraid when people come - plenty of children come to visit me," said Mrs

Grafton, who lives next door to the Ferrises, on Apple Blossom Lane. "They

told me that my water was just a little bit contaminated... When I have

company I don't say a word about it. I've used it all my life and I haven't

had any trouble. If anything happened I'd just turn around and sue them...If

some illness came out this, they'd be out of luck because I'd take them for a

merry chase."

Mrs Grafton said if people she served tea to knew about the water, they may

never come back to visit. "When I see somebody get a glass of water, I almost

go through the floor," she said. "I don't enjoy not having the security that

the water is okay."

Sue Smith said she is concerned about her three children, ages 2, 4, and 8.

"We do everything with our water. It was tested about a year and a half ago

and there were low levels of whatever they were testing for in there," she

said. "They said it was fine - not a health hazard. But the guy behind me had

high levels and now has a filter system."

"Our well is not contaminated, but because I have two young children, [ages 6

and 9], I am very concerned," said Paula Philbrick of Apple Blossom Lane. "I

have watched as neighbors around me have been tested and shown to be positive,

and I can't help but worry that our water may be contaminated in the future.

Given the frequency of sampling, I worry that we might actually be exposed to

that before it's detected. My husband is concerned that when the [town water

supply] is brought in, even though we are near a source of contamination, we

won't have the option to be connected."

State Mandate

Although the DEP continues to search for the source of the well contamination,

it has issued a consent order to the town for action to be taken within a

specified period of time. In part, it requires the town to:

"1) Describe in detail the area and population affected by the pollution of

ground waters on and in the vicinity of Apple Blossom Lane, Dogwood Terrace,

Prospect Drive, and South Main Street... and determine which areas presently

or potentially may not meet the State of Connecticut Department of Public

Health and Addiction Services requirements for potable drinking water.

"2) Describe water supply alternatives, associated costs and design criteria

for each alternative.

"3) Provide a potable drinking water supply to [23 residences listed on the

order.]

The town must choose a qualified consultant by October 30, who will "prepare

documents and oversee the actions" required by the consent order. According to

Director of Health Mark Cooper, a panel met on October 17 to examine the

information submitted by seven environmental firms. Two have been asked to

make a presentation on Friday, October 20, before a final selection is made.

"The state is paying for the consultant, paying for hook-up to town water

supply," said Mrs Wright. "At this point, anything we do is 100 percent

reimbursable. My view is we should try to find every addressable problem."

"As far as I know, they're doing the best they can," said Richard Matern of

Apple Blossom Lane. The state installed a filtration system at his home. "We

drank the water for 30 years - all the kids grew up fine and so have we."

Right now eight homes are on filter systems; approximately 22 others have been

identified as having contaminants in the well that are below the state action

level.

Anger Builds

Residents who had no detectable PCE levels in their initial water sampling may

wait a year or more for another sampling to be done. Because a source is not

known, nor the path of the underground waterway, many of these homeowners feel

their health may be in jeopardy and options to resolve the potential problem

limited.

"I'm upset there has been no public statement," said Roberta Jones of Apple

Blossom Lane. "The contamination may come in waves - they don't know how it's

leaking into the wells. Sooner or later all of us in this area will be

contaminated."

Mrs Jones said she was told that "non-detect" residents would have the option

of paying to hook up to the town water supply that the state will provide to

residents with detectable contaminants. "We're not going to pay to hook up,"

she said, speaking for her family and immediate neighbors. "Okay, don't hook

us up. They'll have to continue paying for water testing and when they find

something, they'll have to pay to dig the road up again and again to hook us

up individually. And after that, there's a good chance we may sue them."

The town and state are walking a fine line, said Mrs Jones. She realizes they

don't want to over-extend unnecessarily, but she is sure they do not want to

leave themselves open for multiple lawsuits.

"Immediate" Future

"First we are addressing those directly affected," said Mrs Wright. "We will

find where the ground water is moving and how it's moving, and who might be

affected in the future."

Although residents are expecting a hydro-geological study to be done to help

determine the water flow pattern, Mr Goldman said that it is not mandated. It

is something that would have to be proposed to and approved by the state, he

said.

Mr Cooper said after the residents identified in the consent order are given a

potable water supply, the investigation to find the contaminating source will

continue. "Wells will continue to be monitored - if they have clean water

today, that's a good thing," he said. "And the time lag between identification

of something in well and action taken should be shorter than it has been in

the past."

Both the state and town are testing well water, but it is Mr Goldman who mails

each of the results to residents. "It takes a couple of weeks to get the

results back, and I've always called people if we need to institute the

bottled water," he said. "They should feel confident that we're doing all we

can to monitor private drinking water and will continue to do so."

Residents can help in a number of ways, according to Mr Goldman. Until severe

winter weather sets in, they can leave outside faucets on so water can be

sampled. And if anyone is aware of a business that might have operated in the

residential area and used PCE, to notify the analyst at the DEP

(203-424-3785).

"Everyone is willing to meet and alleviate concerns," said Mr Cooper. "Maybe

everybody is waiting for someone else to initiate it."

A fact sheet on tetrachloroethylene is available at Newtown Health Department

located in Town Hall South.