FISHERS LANDING — Virginia Tech researchers have found that increased levels of chloride-contamination in well water, like the water tested in wells in the town of Orleans, can corrode plumbing, leading to an increase in leaching of harmful metals.
Dr. Min Tang, a post-doctoral research associate at Virginia Tech, said the team tested how increased levels of salt in well water affected different metal plumbing materials that had traces of lead.
The results indicated that plumbing systems that used lead solders can leach lead when exposed to salt-contaminated water.
“We found that when the (salt) level increases, the leaching from the lead (solders) increases as well,” Dr. Tang said.
The samples the researchers collected showed 89 percent of the tested wells contained higher levels of chlorides than sulfates.
“We found that 12 percent of homes that we sampled were above that (lead action level) threshold,” Dr. Pieper said.
“Most people have indicated to us that they have switched to bottled water.” Dr. Pieper said the study is ongoing and the team will next look at how increased chloride levels cause weight loss, thinning and rust formation in plumbing.
The preliminary results from Dr. Jones’s study were presented during the Saturday meeting and showed that wells in the potential salt barn-affected area exhibited the highest median chloride level, at 230 milligrams per liter.
“We’re just using our data to see what we can validate.” The Town Council plans to deal with the salt crisis by building a water line along Route 12 to provide municipal water to hundreds of residents in Collins Landing, Seaway Avenue, Arcadia Park Road, Fishers Landing and Farrell Drive.
The board needs less than 10 critical easements, and has already begun the eminent domain process to take those remaining parcels.