NHDES NHDES Private Well Private Well

InitiativeInitiative

Paul SuscaDrinking Water and Groundwater Bureau

June 20, 2013

Private Wells and Public Private Wells and Public HealthHealth

Water supply for N.H. residentsWater supply for N.H. residents <60% Public water systems<60% Public water systems >40% Private wells>40% Private wells

Testing is not requiredTesting is not required except by a few except by a few towns, and typically only for new towns, and typically only for new constructionconstruction

Testing often does Testing often does notnot include important include important contaminantscontaminants

Contaminants such as Arsenic and Radon Contaminants such as Arsenic and Radon present at unhealthy levels in many wellspresent at unhealthy levels in many wells

Private Wells - Private Wells - OpportunityOpportunity

Water supply for N.H. residentsWater supply for N.H. residents <60% Public water systems – 3,000 sources<60% Public water systems – 3,000 sources >40% Private wells – 250,000 wells!>40% Private wells – 250,000 wells!

New Hampshire New Hampshire second only to Mainesecond only to Maine DES and others in New Hampshire DES and others in New Hampshire

researching health effects and researching health effects and promoting testingpromoting testing

Private wells getting national attentionPrivate wells getting national attention How can DES and LANH work How can DES and LANH work

together?together?

Private Well Testing in N.H.Private Well Testing in N.H.Untapped Market?Untapped Market?

N.H. Drinking Water Testing Market

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Chemical Lead & Copper TC & E. coli (P/A)

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PWS Total

1/10 Private wells

Graph shows number of PWS samples/year July 2011 – June 2013 (avg of two years) compared to potential market if all private

wells were tested once every 10 years.

Outreach (2000 – present)Outreach (2000 – present) Private Well Working Group 2007-2009Private Well Working Group 2007-2009 Legislation 2009-2010Legislation 2009-2010 Since 2010Since 2010

Dartmouth Toxic Metals ProgramDartmouth Toxic Metals Program NH Pediatric SocietyNH Pediatric Society NH child care providers (day care)NH child care providers (day care) NH Building Officials Association – “potable” NH Building Officials Association – “potable”

def.def.

Brief Review of DES Brief Review of DES Private Well InitiativePrivate Well Initiative

. . . and other private well . . . and other private well work in New work in New

Hampshire/New EnglandHampshire/New England New England bladder cancer study New England bladder cancer study

(Dartmouth & USGS, 2006): private (Dartmouth & USGS, 2006): private well use increases riskwell use increases risk

2006 Arsenic biomonitoring study 2006 Arsenic biomonitoring study (NHPHL): more than half with As > (NHPHL): more than half with As > MCL did MCL did notnot take measures to reduce take measures to reduce exposureexposure

USGS arsenic model (2012): USGS arsenic model (2012): 20-30%20-30% of PWs in NH have >10 ppb As (MCL)of PWs in NH have >10 ppb As (MCL)

PARAMETER AND MCL-SMCL (unless stated otherwise )

PRIVATE BEDROCK WELLS 1 EXCEEDING

STANDARD Primary Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) Arsenic (10 ug/L) 20%2 Bacteria ( present/ absent ) 19%3 Copper (1.3 mg /L) - EPA Action Level 1%3 Lead ( 0.015 ug/L ) - EPA Action Level 2%3 Nitrate (10 mg /L) 0.3% 4 Gross alpha (15 pCi/L) 4%4 Radon (4,000 pCi/L ) - proposed federal Alternative MCL 33%4 Radon (300 pCi/L) - proposed federal MCL 95%4 Radon (2,000 pCi/L) - NHDES reco mmended action level 55%5 Radium (5 pCi/L) 4% 4,6 Uranium (30 ug/L) 6%4 Secondary Maximum Contaminant Limit (SMCLs) Chloride (250 mg/L) 3%3 Iron (0.30 mg/L) 31%7,8 Hardness (121 mg/L ) - not an SMCL 11%8 Manganese (0.05 mg/L) 40%7,8 Sodium ( 250 mg/L) 1%3

Estimated Percentages of Private Wells Estimated Percentages of Private Wells in NH in NH

Exceeding Drinking Water StandardsExceeding Drinking Water Standards

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Source: Joshua Hamilton, Marine Biological Laboratory

2009 DES Private Well 2009 DES Private Well Working Group Working Group

Recommendations Recommendations Improve public education Improve public education Amend the state building code to Amend the state building code to

clearly define potable water clearly define potable water Require testing and disclosure of Require testing and disclosure of

test results to buyers during real test results to buyers during real estate transfers. estate transfers.

Private Wells – National Private Wells – National AttentionAttention

American Academy of Pediatrics American Academy of Pediatrics Policy recommendations (2009)Policy recommendations (2009) Currently reviewing Bright Futures Currently reviewing Bright Futures

protocolprotocol Centers for Disease Control & Centers for Disease Control &

PreventionPrevention National Private Well InitiativeNational Private Well Initiative Funding research & “interventions” on Funding research & “interventions” on

state levelstate level

Private Well TestingPrivate Well TestingAAP Recommendations AAP Recommendations

(2009)(2009) States – require testing at sale of homeStates – require testing at sale of home Local governmentsLocal governments

Provide info about local GW conditions, Provide info about local GW conditions, recommendations for testingrecommendations for testing

Tests should be convenient, free or Tests should be convenient, free or inexpensiveinexpensive

PediatriciansPediatricians Ask patients about private well useAsk patients about private well use Recommend testing according to algorithmRecommend testing according to algorithm

American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Environmental Health and Committee on Infectious Diseases (2009). Drinking Water From Private Wells and Risks to Children. Pediatrics 2009;123;1599-1605.

Bright Futures Bright Futures RecommendationRecommendation

Regarding Testing for Regarding Testing for FluorideFluoride

Municipalities That Municipalities That Require Private Well Require Private Well

Testing Testing Bow, Derry, Pelham, Salem, WindhamBow, Derry, Pelham, Salem, Windham

✓ Require testing to receive a CO (Bow)Require testing to receive a CO (Bow)✓ Cite RSA 147:1 Public Health AuthorityCite RSA 147:1 Public Health Authority✓ Refer to DES’s Standard Analysis (tests) Refer to DES’s Standard Analysis (tests) ✓ Most require water quality testing (w/o treatment) Most require water quality testing (w/o treatment)

vs. treatmentvs. treatment Bow, Derry, Pelham, Salem, WindhamBow, Derry, Pelham, Salem, Windham

Defining “potable” could change that Defining “potable” could change that

How to Interpret How to Interpret Results?Results?

Fact sheet for each contaminant on DES Fact sheet for each contaminant on DES web site (“NHDES drinking water fact web site (“NHDES drinking water fact sheet”)sheet”)

RadonRadon

Confusing - no single standard Confusing - no single standard 95% of wells exceed 300 pCi/L (pMCL)95% of wells exceed 300 pCi/L (pMCL) 55% exceed 2,000 (DES RAL)55% exceed 2,000 (DES RAL) 33% exceed 4,000 (pAMCL)33% exceed 4,000 (pAMCL)

““Leads to the deaths of an estimated 100 Leads to the deaths of an estimated 100 residents each year in N.H.”residents each year in N.H.” Preventable thru testing & mitigationPreventable thru testing & mitigation

DES: Test air DES: Test air andand water. water. Treatment: aeration, activated carbonTreatment: aeration, activated carbon

NHDES MessagingNHDES Messaging

40% of NH residents rely on private wells40% of NH residents rely on private wells No statewide testing requirementsNo statewide testing requirements Natural contaminants commonly occur at Natural contaminants commonly occur at

unhealthy levels, esp. As and Rnunhealthy levels, esp. As and Rn Test according to guidelines in our flyerTest according to guidelines in our flyer Everyone should testEveryone should test Visit our website or call for list of labsVisit our website or call for list of labs

Barriers?Barriers? Lack of knowledge about how to test Lack of knowledge about how to test

and what to test for and what to test for ComplacencyComplacency InconvenienceInconvenience Lack of a perceived problemLack of a perceived problem ““Knowledge and better information by Knowledge and better information by

themselves were found to provide a themselves were found to provide a weak basis for changing behavior.” weak basis for changing behavior.” Imgrund, et. al. (2011) Imgrund, et. al. (2011)

Town-Wide Voluntary Well Town-Wide Voluntary Well TestingTesting

HollisHollis DublinDublin Tuftonboro (2012, 2013?) – Conservation Tuftonboro (2012, 2013?) – Conservation

CommissionCommissionPrivate Well Samples, Tuftonboro

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NHDES Proposed ProjectNHDES Proposed Project

Applied for CDC funding in May 2013Applied for CDC funding in May 2013 Part of National Private Well InitiativePart of National Private Well Initiative Project OutlineProject Outline

Obtain info on testing, treatment, barriersObtain info on testing, treatment, barriers Estimate exposure & health effectsEstimate exposure & health effects Community-wide testing eventsCommunity-wide testing events Web “portal” for info on well testing & qualityWeb “portal” for info on well testing & quality Web-based tool for choosing treatmentWeb-based tool for choosing treatment Measure impact on testing, etc. (partnering Measure impact on testing, etc. (partnering

with LANH)with LANH)

Last Words: Good NewsLast Words: Good News

Large untapped marketLarge untapped market Several respected organizations involved Several respected organizations involved

– raising profile of the issue– raising profile of the issue CDC has taken notice, is providing CDC has taken notice, is providing

fundingfunding Scientific case for testing getting strongerScientific case for testing getting stronger Statewide guidance on “potable” could Statewide guidance on “potable” could

help boost testinghelp boost testing NHDES is not giving upNHDES is not giving up