New water contamination source suspected in North Hampton

Aquarion Water Company officials said test results show contaminant readings in its drinking water wells are still significantly below the federal health advisory level.
[File photo] NORTH HAMPTON — A Route 1 car wash has stopped discharging PFAS chemicals near Aquarion Water Company’s supply at the state’s direction, but state officials say another potential source of the contaminants could exist nearby.
State officials say they learned this week Abenaqui Carriers, a truck yard at 38 South Road, has also been discharging wastewater that may have sent contaminants toward Aquarion’s nearby water supply, which serves Hampton, North Hampton and Rye.
PFAS levels in Aquarion water have not exceeded federal or state standards, and the company says the water is safe to drink.
State officials learned 30 days prior the car wash was putting violation levels of certain PFAS chemicals and 1,4-dioxane into nearby groundwater.
Kernen said Pro-Wash now keeps water used to wash cars in a holding tank, then has it hauled to another facility.
He said it is too early to tell if DES will also require Abenaqui to test for contaminants yet, but he said the company has already been determined to have committed a violation, as neither their holding tank nor their discharge was permitted or registered with DES as required.
Abenaqui told DES several weeks ago it was storing wastewater in a holding tank, then later contacted DES to say they had been mistaken and in fact were discharging into the ground, Kernen said.
Monday, Aquarion Vice President of Water Quality and Environmental Management John Herlihy told Hampton selectmen tests of PFAS levels in Aquarion water consumed by customers have remained consistently level and meet not only federal regulations but more stringent requirements enacted or proposed in other states.
Officials have said that Coakley is leaching contaminants, including PFAS, into nearby groundwater.

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