Volume 4   Issue  39                     February   2005

'Arsenic Belt' Subject of Study Tainted water sources are targeted

The Worcester Telegram & Gazette By Debbie LaPlaca January 31, 2005

The study sampled 1,600 public and private water sources in eastern sections of the six New England states and found that almost a third of New England's private wells had arsenic levels exceeding the maximum allowable level of 10 parts per billion. Arsenic is a semi-metallic solid found naturally in soil and bedrock in many parts of the world. According to the state Department of Environmental Protection, water from bedrock wells, and less frequently from shallow wells, may contain arsenic. The groundwater contaminate is caused by natural weathering of rocks and is more of a factor in the central part of the state.

Arsenic ingestion can cause chronic and acute health problems. Acute effects include "pins and needles" sensations in the hands and feet, abnormal bruising, nausea, vomiting or fatigue. Chronic effects are an increased risk of skin, bladder and lung cancer. Arsenic has no smell, taste or color when dissolved in water, so only laboratory tests can determine its presence. Arsenic concentration in water is measured in parts per billion or milligrams per liter. While most publications refer to arsenic measurements in ppb, laboratory results report levels in mg/L. The conversion is: 10 ppb equals .010 mg/L.  The maximum allowable drinking-water level of 50 ppb, set in 1975, became more stringent in 2001: It was reduced to 10 ppb by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Public water systems have until Jan. 23, 2006, to comply with the new standard. Peter Weiskel, program officer for the USGS, said the new study is a collaboration between his agency, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the EPA. The USGS will map and study the correlation between bedrock type and concentrations of arsenic in the communities, 57 of which are in Central Massachusetts. The EPA will supply analytical services through its New England laboratory, and the state Department of Public Health will act as communications liaison with local boards of health for records regarding how often arsenic is found when testing new wells.

The study will take two years and about $140,000 to complete. "We expect the project will be funded by EPA Region I, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the U.S. Geological Survey. We are also seeking funding from additional state agencies," Mr. Weiskel said. John Colman, hydrologist and project chief for USGS, worked out the protocol for the upcoming study. According to Mr. Colman, Massachusetts bedrock formations are already mapped, thereby reducing the cost of the project. "We know this is a broad band in Massachusetts. We want to include the whole band in our sampling," Mr. Coleman said of the arsenic-laced bedrock belt. Mr. Colman said the project will inventory as many private wells in the targeted communities as possible. However, "by sampling a relatively small number of wells and using the correlating bedrock data, we can predict the high and low areas for arsenic."

This study is expected to answer two questions: How extensive is the arsenic groundwater contamination problem in Massachusetts, and do the results correspond to those found in a New Hampshire study. A comprehensive study of 353 randomly selected private bedrock wells in southeastern New Hampshire found 19 percent contained arsenic contamination exceeding the EPA's maximum allowable drinking water level of 10 ppb, according to a 2003 USGS fact sheet.

Once the study is complete, the information will be disseminated to the public. Future development of public water supplies and private wells can be guided away from bedrock conditions proven to contain high levels of arsenic, Mr. Colman said. Although public water supplies must meet the 10 ppb standard by 2006, private wells are not governed by federal water standards and are subject to few state and local regulations, leaving it up to property owners to test for potential well contamination.

The DEP recommends use of a state-certified testing laboratory with methods sensitive enough to detect arsenic levels lower than 10 ppb. A list of DEP certified labs can be found at: www.mass.gov/dep/consumer/consumer.htm#consumerdw. DEP-certified Microbac Laboratories of Marlboro performs arsenic tests for $20. The lab requires 16 ounces of water from the kitchen faucet in a clean water bottle. Test results take seven to 10 business days.

If arsenic is detected, bottled water is an immediate remedy. Filtration can remove the toxin. Justin Linde of Charlton Well Co. Inc. says arsenic filtration may be achieved through a point-of-use reverse-osmosis filter installed under the sink. A whole-house activated-aluminum filter can clean all water where it enters the home. A whole-house system costs about $1,200 to $1,500, depending on the installation conditions, Mr. Linde said.

An informal survey of 10 communities identified in the new study found most local boards of health require new wells be tested for arsenic. The communities differ in the depth at which testing is required, the year regulations began and the course of action if arsenic is detected. Charlton's regulations are among the most stringent. If arsenic is detected from the first new well test, a whole-house filtration system is mandatory. A subsequent water test must be submitted as evidence the filtration system is working before a certificate of occupancy is issued. The town places a deed restriction on the property to alert potential buyers of the reason for the filtration system.

Fitchburg Board of Health Director Jeffrey P. Jerszyk said few new wells in the city are contaminated by arsenic. "We have seen more private well drilling," he said, "in the last three years in areas without city water and arsenic above the set standard hasn't been an issue."

Leominster Health Department Director Chris Knuth said that during the four years he has been with the department, the few cases where arsenic was found in new wells did not require filtration. Wells were "purged" by running them 24 to 48 hours to dissipate arsenic sediment leftover from installation. A subsequent test is performed to ensure a successful purge.

The state DEP advises private well owners to test before buying a new home, test new wells before use, and to test every three years. Specifics for test recommendations can be found on the DEP Web site.

Copyright 2005 Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Inc.

Have you seen a safety device you think our readers should know about?

Does your company make or sell a safety device you would like to see featured in this column?

If so, please email the information about the device to Safety Issues.

The purpose of this column is to make your life safer with the use of the latest technology.

Neither Safety Issues nor its affiliated companies are responsible for any opinions expressed in this column.

Thank you for reading this column.

© 2008 SafetyIssues.com All rights reserved.