What is happening to the wells in parts of southern New Hampshire? PFOA has been found in Litchfield and Merrimack and a few in Manchester. What is PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid)? It has been around for over 50 years and almost every person in the world has some of it in their system. It has been used since the 1940s and is best known as Teflon.
The problem surfaced in New Hampshire when tests were taken of wells and the number of parts per trillion was greater than the acceptable number. As a result, 400 homes in the area are now receiving bottled water and will continue to receive bottled water at least through the summer. PFOA has been released from the stack of a plant in New Hampshire, and when it falls to the ground, it gets into the soil and does not go away.
What is the answer to this problem? Wells must be tested, a standard of parts per trillion set, and emissions from the plant must be ended. Will pipe lines be extended in order to provide city water from Manchester or in the case of Merrimack, from the Pennichuck system? These answers must come soon. Who will pay is the central issue. This story is not only being heard in New Hampshire but also in other parts of the country.
The Department of Environmental Services has been on the case and is doing its best. Now it is wait and see.
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Sen. Lou D’Allesandro is from Manchester and has represented the people of District 20 for nine terms. For the 2015-2016 legislative session he is Vice Chairman of the Ways & Means Committee and sits on the Finance and Capital Budget Committees. You can reach Sen. D’Allensandro at dalas@leg.state.nh.us. He is a regular contributor to Manchester Ink Link with his NH Senate Report.
