Water Report: Who knew about chemicals in local wells?
Three water districts said they are working on improving communication with federal and state officials after news reports highlighted the presence of two chemicals used to make Teflon and Scotchgard in customers’ water.
Security Water District has since shut down seven wells that are affected by the man-made chemicals. Those wells are part of a shared system with Fountain and Widefield, which is why the chemicals were also discovered in the two other districts.
EPA tests showed levels for a chemical used to make Scotchgard, a PFOS, were higher than the Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended levels. The presence of a chemical used to make Teflon, a PFOA, was lower than the EPA’s recommended levels, but still present. Teflon is used to coat nonstick pans and cooking utensils, as well as the inside of a popcorn bag. Scotchgard is a fabric protector.
Neither chemical is regulated by the EPA. Currently, the EPA is collecting data to determine if the chemicals should be regulated.
As part of its data collection, the EPA examined samples from Security, Fountain and Widefield water districts. Information showing the presence of the contaminates was posted online, but the water districts said they had no idea about the chemicals in the water until they were confronted by a journalist.
“It’s not the best position to be in,” said Security Water District General Manager Roy Heald.
“It’s a cause of concern,” said Curtis Mitchell, utilities director for Fountain.
While the findings were posted online by the EPA, the information was buried in millions of lines of data.
“It’s right out there on the Internet but I don’t think anyone realized that it was their responsibility to look at that,” said Heald.
Typically, the EPA relays the information to Colorado’s Department of Public Health and Environment, which gives the information to local water districts. However, since the two chemicals aren’t regulated, Mitchell said the EPA was in the early stages of data collection and hadn’t passed along the results.
“This is part of the EPA’s routine process. They are analyzing data. I would say they are early on in the process and at this point they haven’t brought it to our attention directly,” said Mitchell.
Security Water District has blended the contaminated well water with surface water so it’s been diluted. The levels of both chemicals are now much lower and the districts are assuring customers that the water is safe to drink. Seven wells remain shut down until the source of the contamination is determined.
“There are a lot of challenges in this business — drinking water and wastewater and we just have to work through them as they come along,” said Heald.
Now, the districts say it’s been a learning opportunity, highlighting the need for improved communication with Environmental Protection Agency and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
“We have already learned a lot. I think the state health department and the EPA are learning that we can utilize better communication in the future. It’s unfortunate that it took an event like this to point that out, but I think we will be in better communication in the future,” said Heald.
“There are always opportunities to improve communication,” said Mitchell.
Mitchell said the EPA will investigate to try to determine the source of the chemicals. After that, the agency will work with CDPHE and the local districts to craft a long-term plan for fixing the problem and eliminating the chemicals’ from the local water supply.
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