State updates investigation of Doylestown-area water contamination

by Kyle Bagenstose, December 6, 2016

 

Three of about 280 private wells in Buckingham, Doylestown Township and Plumstead have PFOA and PFOS above the level deemed safe by the Environmental Protection Agency, according to results from the first part of a three-part investigation by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

In a press release issued Tuesday, the DEP said residents of the three homes whose well water eclipsed the EPA limit were “immediately provided bottled water for drinking purposes.”

The investigation began earlier this year, after a Doylestown Township Municipal Authority well near the Cross Keys shopping center was closed because it contained PFOA at 210 parts per trillion, three times the EPA’s 70-ppt recommended limit.

A sampling map provided by the DEP depicts the investigation area as being within a 1-mile radius of that Cross Keys well. A summary sheet of the sampling shows the vast majority of private wells in that area contained the chemicals at less than 20 ppt.

The hardest hit area appeared to be neighborhoods at the very southwest boundary of the investigation area, which is south of the intersection of Old Dublin Pike and Pine Run Road in Doylestown Township, near Pine Run Creek. In those neighborhoods, the map showed two homes above the 70-ppt level and about a half dozen more tested between 41 ppt and 69 ppt.

Virginia Cain, community relations coordinator for the DEP, wrote in an email that the third property to eclipse the 70-ppt level was not included on the map because a follow-up test showed the chemicals dipping back below that level.

Sitting to the northeast of the investigation area were about a dozen homes that sampled between 20 and 69 ppt; they were primarily on John Dyer Way — also near Pine Run Creek.

“No responsible party has been identified as the source of contamination at this time,” according to the DEP release.

 “A second sampling event has been scheduled for early December to include private wells in an expanded area of investigation,” the release continues. “In accordance with guidance from EPA, a third sampling event will take place in the winter months to re-sample properties that have tested above 40 ppt.”

This isn’t the only area site the DEP is investigating. The agency is ramping up a similar investigation in the East Rockhill area, after two public water wells were closed earlier this year due to PFOS and PFOA contamination. The chemicals have also prompted a public well closure in Chalfont.

The sources for those contaminated wells haven’t been identified either.

According to testing results from various area water authorities, all major public water supplies in the Doylestown, East Rockhill, and Chalfont areas currently provide water that is within the EPA’s advised safety limits for the chemicals

Drinking water advisory

originally posted on December 6, 2016

 

Wapello Rural Water Association is recommending to boil the water before using for drinking or to use an alternative source.

A water main break occurred on 190th Stree in Keota, Iowa resulting in a water boil advisory being issued for the cities of Harper, South English, Kinross, rural Keota and surrounding areas that experienced a water outage on the morning of December 16th, 2016.

Wapello Rural Water had a problem in the distribution system and the system lost pressure at approximately 11:20 am on December 6th. Due to the potential for bacterial contamination, it is being recommended that the water be boiled before using for drinking or cooking or that an alternative source be used.

IT IS RECOMMENDED NOT TO DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.

For more information, please contact 641-682-8351. For general guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes, call 1-800-426-4791.

The system is working with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to resolve this situation.

Tumalo – Water Customers Under Boil Advisory

originally posted on December 6, 2016

 

Tumalo, Ore. – Tumalo residents who are customers of Laidlaw Water District are on notice to boil water after a main waterline broke over the weekend.

The district, which has 127 users is expected to get results back today (Tuesday), on whether the water is declared safe to consume.

The break in the line occurred along Tumalo Road, about a half a mile east of Tumalo, and likely resulted from a movement in the earth, according to Dave Peer, the district’s manager. Peer indicated that since the break occurred in the lowest point of the system, its unlikely to be contaminated.

The district isolated the break within the first hour of discovering the problem. However, out of safety precautions, the district sent notices to boil water to its users, but the water is safe for bathing.

A break in a water main is not uncommon, according to Peer. Laidlaw Water District has never had a break in its 40 years.

The city of La Pine’s main water line broke last year, prompting a boil advisory after a vehicle hit a hydrant near the city’s wells and main water storage tank.

Boil water advisory after Kalamazoo water main break

originally posted on December 7, 2016

 

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Right now, a boil water advisory is in effect for several Kalamazoo neighborhoods following a water main break.

The main is on Rockwood Drive, just north of Winding Way in Kalamazoo.

Homes you see here in the highlighted area are all impacted, bordering D Avenue, Cypress Creek, the US-131 business loop, and Forest Way.

The advisory is expected to be lifted in the next three days, once test results show the water is free of bacteria.

We will let you know as soon as the all clear is given.

Boil water advisory canceled for residents in Biron

by Heather Poltrock, originally posted on December 6, 2016

 

BIRON, Wis. (WSAW) — People living in the village of Biron can now safely drink the water following a malfunction at the treatment plant and loss of pressure in the distribution system.

The malfunction prompted village leaders to issue a boil advisory Tuesday as precaution.

4 Keokuk County communities under boil advisory

originally posted on December 6, 2016

 

KEOKUK COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG-TV9) — The Wapello Rural Water Association has issued a boil advisory for the cities of Harper, South English, Kinross, and rural Keota, as well as the surrounding areas until further notice.

About 11:20 a.m. Tuesday, the WRWA reported a water main break at 190th Street in Keota.

Due to the potential for bacterial contamination, authorities recommend water be boiled before consumption.

The system has been repaired and repressurized, but the boil advisory won’t be lifted until bacteria sample results come back clean.

The WRWA will contact those affected by the boil advisory once it’s been lifted.

Boil water advisory issued in Spring Hill, Paola, Hillsdale areas

by Roriano Porter, originally posted on December 6, 2016

 

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for Johnson County Rural Water District 7.

The district includes the area of Spring Hill, Paola and Hillsdale.

Customers should boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparations, or use bottled water.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for Johnson County Rural Water District 7.

The district includes the area of Spring Hill, Paola and Hillsdale.

Customers should boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparations, or use bottled water.

BOIL ORDER TIPS

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

▪ Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation, or use bottled water.

▪ Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.

▪ Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.

▪ Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.

Boil Water Advisory Canceled for Parts of Haymarket, Virginia

originally posted on December 7, 2016

A boil water advisory was in effect for parts of Haymarket, Virginia, after a water main break left some neighborhoods with low water pressure.

The advisory was canceled Thursday night after tests showed no bacterial contamination.

The water main break was found between U.S. 29 and Wellington Road. The break affected water pressure in the area, prompting the boil water advisory.

Affected communities included: Heritage Hunt, Piedmont, Dominion Valley, Virginia Oaks, Town of Haymarket, Heritage Farms, Villages at Piedmont, Somerset, Hopewell’s Landing, Heathcoate Commons, Gates Mill, Parks at Piedmont.

The Prince William County Service Authority said the advisory would remain in place for 47 hours.

Residents were advised to boil their tap water or use bottled water for drinking, making ice, brushing their teeth, preparing and cooking food and giving water to pets.

Beginning Thursday at 6 a.m., Harris Teeter grocery stores in the Madison Crescent (7910 Crescent Park Drive) and Heritage Hunt (13901 Heathcote Blvd.) shopping centers will distribute free 24-packs of bottled water, the supermarket announced in a release Thursday afternoon.

All Prince William County Schools were open Wednesday. The following schools had bottled water and food service: Battlefield High School, Bull Run Middle School, Reagan Middle School, Gravely Elementary School, Alvey Elementary School, Mountain View Elementary School, Haymarket Elementary School, Buckland Mills Elementary School, Tyler Elementary School and Pace West School.

School officials advised students to bring extra bottled water for personal use.

Several Ramseur Homes Under Boil Water Advisory

originally posted on December 5, 2016

 

RANDOLPH COUNTY — Several homes in Ramseur are still without water or are under a boil water advisory as of Monday.

This comes after a water line burst on Columbia Avenue last Thursday.

Crews turned off the water supply to homes on Cox Street, Oak Street and Shady Drive off of Columbia Avenue for several hours to repair the pipe.

After the water is turned back on later Monday, those homes will have to boil their water before they use it for up to 48 hours.

“It would have to be boiled for eating, drinking, brushing your teeth, anything in that effect. Not saying that there is anything wrong with the water, but it is just a precautionary that we take until we get the test results back,” said Mayor Pro Tem Grant Cheek.

City officials will contact homeowners once they lift the boil water advisory.

Boil advisory lifted for Town of Vinton

originally posted on December 5, 2016

 

VINTON, LA (KPLC) – The boil advisory for the Town of Vinton has been lifted.

The Town of Vinton regrets any inconvenience this may have caused the citizens and appreciates everyone’s cooperation in this matter.

For information, call the Town of Vinton at 337-589-7453.