(Photo by Jon Olender) CLARENDON — The state suspects firefighting foam used during a 1986 plane crash near the then-Rutland State Airport could be the source of chemical contamination that has showed up in wells that serve the Rutland Airport Business Park.
On Monday, state officials told the Clarendon Select Board that only two wells near the Rutland-Southern Vermont Regional Airport tested positive for PFOS and PFOA, or polyfluoroalkyl substances, that were higher than state standards.
Other wells tested in the area, particularly along Airport Road and at the state-owned airport, have revealed no detectable levels of the chemicals.
Nahmias said a carbon-based filter system would be installed in the water system serving the eight businesses that get their water from the two wells, which are located on airport property but serve the business park.
Residents peppered Schwer and Nahmias with questions about how far afield the state would test for contamination and how sure they were that the source of the PFOS and PFOA was the firefighting foam from 32 years ago.
The Rutland Business Park’s wells were tested on March 13, and the state got the results about two weeks later.
Schwer said that wasn’t necessary.
People can sign up for a state newsletter that will have the latest information about the problem, he said.
He said the state also found PFOA contamination from the foam at the Vermont Air National Guard site in Burlington and the Vermont firefighters training site in Pittsford.
At the National Guard site, the area was served by a municipal water system, he said.