By Jim Therrien, originally posted on November 10, 2016

POWNAL — Pownal Fire District 2 board members expressed frustration this week over the search for an alternative water source to replace the district’s current well, which was found to contain PFOA contamination last spring.

The board met with managers hired by a company associated with the suspected source of the perfluorooctanoic acid — the nearby former Warren Wire Co. factory — to deal with ongoing water filtering and develop a new water source. In the meeting, board members pressed for a speedier long-term solution.

District board Secretary-Treasurer Sharon Nichols and others also called for Unicorn Management Consultants — hired by American Premier Underwriters, of Cincinnati — to promptly approve payment of overdue water district bills they believe are related to the PFOA contamination.

American Premier Underwriters has agreed to pay for a granular activated filtering system now installed at the wellhead off Route 346 just south of the former factory building. It has also agreed to cover other intermediate costs, like bottled water for residents and filters on private wells in the area with levels of PFOA higher than the state accepted level of 20 parts per trillion.

The water system serves about 450 customers in the south Pownal area, roughly between Route 7 and Route 346.

Michael O’Connor, of Unicorn Management, told board members Monday that the firm is seeking additional proposals from engineering firms to act as consultant in the search for a new well site, having received only one proposal rather than the preferred three.

After the meeting, O’Connor said he could provide no firm timetable for the search process, which does not involve seeking bids but soliciting proposals from engineering firms licensed to perform that work in Vermont. At this point, only Otter Creek Engineering of Rutland has supplied a proposal.

Mark Youngstrom, of Otter Creek Engineering, also attended the district board meeting. He said Tuesday: “I designed the entire water system currently serving Pownal Fire District No. 2 when I was with my previous firm Wright Engineering, also out of Rutland. That work included locating, testing and permitting the existing 100 gallon per minute well on Route 346, as well as the water distribution system and the storage tank, and the administration assistance of forming the fire district and obtaining the funding to construct the system.”

District board members indicated Monday they would favor having Youngstrom and Otter Creek work with the district to locate an uncontaminated water source.

Youngstrom said his firm has some areas in mind where it would look first for a suitable site, but he noted a number of criteria must be met, including access and landowner cooperation.

State officials have said it typically takes about 18 months to identify and develop an acceptable new source of water for a public system.

Youngstrom noted that what was then known as the Pownal Water Co., and privately owned, was previously served by a small reservoir and had an aging network of water lines and no filtration or treatment system for disinfection. The system was turned over to the newly formed fire district during the 1990s, and a well site was located in an open field off Route 346.

Board members also expressed frustration over the pace of reimbursement from Unicorn Management for water system expenses they believe are related to the PFOA contamination. Those include new chlorination equipment required because of the carbon filtering system, which can harbor bacteria and wasn’t previously a factor for the district.

Nichols and others argued with O’Connor over several maintenance, contractor service call or other expenses they believe American Premier Underwriters should cover because they all relate to the PFOA contamination. O’Connor contended that some of the expenses are likely the responsibility of the fire district.

O’Connor said he would refer the disputed bills to Unicorn Management’s owner, Francisco Trejo. Board members said they also hope to arrange a meeting with Trejo.

Asked about the state’s role in monitoring efforts to resolve the water contamination issues, Danika Frisbie of the Agency of Natural Resources, said Tuesday: “APU agreed to cover a set of costs for a drinking water solution for Fire District No. 2, and there are evolving costs associated with maintaining that system. The state is committed to continuing to work with local officials and representatives from Unicorn Management Consultants find a solution moving forward.”

While APU has agreed to cover certain expenses in the process, state officials have said the firm has not accepted liability for the contamination.

In the spring, after PFOA contamination was discovered near factories in Hoosick and Petersburgh, New York, and in the North Bennington area, the state tested the Pownal well and nearly 100 private wells in Pownal and North Pownal. Most showed no detectable amounts of PFOA, while seven had levels above the Vermont limit and 12 had levels below 20 parts per trillion.

Vermont issued a no-drink order for the water district in March, after levels of PFOA above the state’s limit of 20 parts per trillion were detected. Water was found to have levels of 26 and 27 parts per trillion. However, by late July the granular activated carbon filter system, which includes large steel tanks, was installed near the wellhead and the no-drink order was lifted.

The filtering system is expected to remain in place until a new water source can be brought online.

Warren Wire Co. started operating at the 10-acre industrial site, which is roughly 1,000 feet from the wellhead, in 1948. The factory was subsequently sold to General Cable Co., which later became known as GK Technologies Inc. That firm was purchased in 1981 by a holding company for the Pennsylvania Central Corp.

According to state officials, APU took on the building’s environmental liabilities after the site was sold to the current owner, Mack Molding, which has primarily used it as a warehouse.

The chemical PFOA, which was used in wire coatings and in consumer products and packaging, is suspected to have a link to cancers and other diseases, but the results of scientific studies thus far have differed.