hht presentation: well water
DESCRIPTION
Presentation by Eric Frohmberg, Maine Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, on well water and the importance of having your well tested at the Maine Asthma Coalition's Healthy Homes Trainings.TRANSCRIPT
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Encouraging Mainers to Test their Well Water
Eric Frohmberg
Maine Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
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• 5% of all wells in Maine have too much uranium.
• More than ½ of all wells in Maine may have a radon problem.
Problem
• 10% of all wells in Maine have too much arsenic.
• 40 to 50% of Mainers are on a private well
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Brochure Development
• Developed with stakeholders, focus groups and key informants.
• Written using easy to read techniques.
• Cover – eye catching, core message, contact info.
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• Bacteria test is a surrogate for surface water or septic contamination.
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• Why every 3 to 5 years?
•Arsenic is a known human carcinogen.
•10% of all wells in Maine above 10 ppb arsenic.
• Maine has hotspots.
• This can be fixed.
Arsenic
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• Lower well water guidance from 20,000 pCi/L to 4,000 pCi/L
• Emphasize air treatment at 2 pCi/L.
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• 5% of all wells in Maine above 20 ppb.
• Also find uranium hot spots.
• Health effect of concern is kidney effects
• Again, treatable.
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• About 100 clinically lead poisoned children per year in Maine.
• “Typical” lead well water problem house is early ’80s with bad pH.
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• EPA has an MCL of 4 mg/L and a secondary MCL of 2 mg/L.
• NAS decided that 4 mg/L is not protective and recommended EPA re-evaluate 2 mg/L.
• Our MEG is based on dental fluorosis.
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Distribution
• Mailed to town offices
• BRFSS Survey
Evaluation
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QUESTIONS
Eric FrohmbergPhone (tollfree in Maine)1-866-292-3474Email: [email protected]
http://wellwater.maine.gov