A fire hall in Blades filled up with at least 100 residents concerned about their health after learning their drinking water is contaminated.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Public Health and the Town of Blades held the meeting after the town’s three municipal wells tested positive for perfluorinated compounds above the human health advisory level.
Residents with private wells can request their systems be tested.
Once residents have safe drinking water, the state will research potential sources, and take corrective measures.
But we reacted immediately because it was a concern and we wanted to address it and get people back to living their lives the way they were a week ago.” Despite those actions, residents attending the meeting expressed their anxiety about the fact the state does not yet know how long the water has been contaminated.
It was the first time the wells have been tested for this chemical, because it’s currently de-regulated by the U.S.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requested sampling in Blades because of the town’s proximity to potential sources of PFCs.
While the chemical is currently de-regulated, public health experts are continuing to learn more about its potential risks.
“Sometimes as new chemicals are put into production we may not know everything about how they impact the environment or our health, which is why studies like this are continuing so we learn more about it, and that’s why we’re seeing some of the levels across the country come down, and you’re seeing more responses like this where we’re a little more concerned for the health of the folks and as we learn more we’re able to become more productive.” Others attending the meeting raised concerns that residents outside Blades’ corporate limits weren’t aware they could be affected by the contamination as well, and some scolded the town for being billed for bad water.
“I want to know what kind of tests my daughter can have to ensure this is not going to affect her in the long-run.”