GREENLAND — Officials from the state Department of Environmental Services ordered the Coakley Landfill Group to “immediately provide bottled water” to a homeowner on Breakfast Hill Road whose well tested above a new standard for the suspected carcinogen 1,4-dioxane.
DES also ordered the CLG to provide the department with “recommendations for corrective action” within 30 days, according to a copy of a letter sent to Peter Britz, the city of Portsmouth’s environmental planner, who also serves as a staffer to the CLG.
People living near the landfill have been concerned for several years that contaminants leaching from the site will contaminate their drinking water wells, especially since 1,4-dioxane and PFAS chemicals have been found at high levels in monitoring wells at the landfill.
State Rep. Mindi Messmer, D-Rye, who has pushed to have the CLG provide safe municipal water to homes around the landfill, called the DES action “definitely the right move.” “It’s probably unfortunately going to happen with the Breakfast Hill Country Club, because they’ve previously tested above the new standard,” Messmer said Tuesday.
“The problem is when are they going to be ordered to keep their contaminants on their property.” Messmer believes the contamination of the Breakfast Hill well means it’s likely other wells will be contaminated.
“I think they should be compelled to stop the flow of toxins and install a treatment system at the landfill,” Messmer said.
“The city of Portsmouth on Friday upon receipt of the letter provided bottled water to the residents,” Woodland said.
“The CLG will have to consider the most effective remedy (for the home).
Earlier this year, he told the Portsmouth Herald contaminants were not migrating from the landfill to private wells.
“What bothers me about the memo is it went to the City Council and not the general public, not unlike when I blew the whistle a couple of years ago that the city administration knew about the Haven well for almost a week before they told the public,” Splaine said Tuesday evening.