DES expands testing into Manchester of water contamination connected to Saint-Gobain

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Aerial shot of the current test results from NH DES.
Aerial shot of the current test results from NH DES. A PDF of this map is embedded below the story.

CONCORD, NH  – The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services  on April 13 announced new and updated drinking water well test results for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in Litchfield, Manchester (on Brown Avenue) and Merrimack, and that the private-well water testing area is being expanded from a 1-mile to a 1.5-mile radius from the Saint-Gobain facility in Merrimack.

A fact sheet issued by the EPA on the potential dangers of PFOA is embedded below.

NHDES is expanding the testing radius in all directions based on evaluation of test results to date. The expanded investigation area now includes portions of Bedford, Litchfield, Londonderry, Manchester and Merrimack, according to DES.

In December a similar issue involving Saint Gobain and PFOA contamination was brought to light in Hoosick Falls, NY, and by March the company was also providing bottled water for residents of North Bennington, Vt.

Saint-Gobain’s Merrimack plant, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, 701 Daniel Webster Highway, is described as “the world’s leading producer of engineered, high-performance polymer products” according to is company website. PFOA is used to make non-stick cookware and stain-resistant carpeting.

In March, New York law firm Weitz & Luxenberg, in connection with activist Erin Brockovich, filed a class-action lawsuit against Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics and Honeywell International over water contamination in Hoosick. They have expanded the investigation to include Merrimack.

The law firm claims chronic exposure to these chemicals has been linked to kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, colitis, and other medical problems.

Test Results issued April 13:

NHDES has received a total of 161 water well test results to date. Of the results received, 41 private wells (one in Manchester, seven in Merrimack and 33 in Litchfield) were found to contain PFOA concentrations at or above 100 parts per trillion (ppt), ranging from 100 ppt to 1,600 ppt; the well tested at 1,600 ppt is not used for drinking water purposes. An updated map and table of the test results are attached below, as well as on the NHDES PFOA investigation webpage under sampling data and map.

NHDES will be resampling the MVD wells on a weekly basis during the investigation.

All residents of Litchfield living within the current 1-mile investigation radius, as well as those on the following streets outside of the radius, qualify to receive bottled water:

  • Courtland Avenue
  • Lance Avenue
  • Jeff Lane
  • Mike Lane
  • Ronisa Avenue
  • Ivy Way
  • Robyn Avenue
  • Acorn Way
  • Oak Drive
  • Sybil Lane
  • Garden Drive
  • 377-450 Charles Bancroft Hwy (north of Midway Ave. and south of Strawberry Lane)

Residents of Litchfield, Manchester and Merrimack whose wells to date have tested above 100 ppt of PFOA are already receiving bottled water. Saint-Gobain has communicated to NHDES that they will pay for the bottled water being provided.

NHDES expects to be provided soon with results from soil and groundwater test results taken at the Saint-Gobain facility.

Residents within the 1.5 mile radius who would like to request a well test can submit the following form to NHDES.
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About this Author

Carol Robidoux

PublisherManchester Ink Link

Longtime NH journalist and publisher of ManchesterInkLink.com. Loves R&B, German beer, and the Queen City!