NHDES Private Well Initiative Paul Susca Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau June 20, 2013

Private Wells and Public Health Water supply for N.H. residents Water supply for N.H. residents <60% Public water systems <60% Public water systems >40% Private wells >40% Private wells Testing is not required except by a few towns, and typically only for new construction Testing is not required except by a few towns, and typically only for new construction Testing often does not include important contaminants Testing often does not include important contaminants Contaminants such as Arsenic and Radon present at unhealthy levels in many wells Contaminants such as Arsenic and Radon present at unhealthy levels in many wells

Private Wells - Opportunity Water supply for N.H. residents Water supply for N.H. residents <60% Public water systems – 3,000 sources <60% Public water systems – 3,000 sources >40% Private wells – 250,000 wells! >40% Private wells – 250,000 wells! New Hampshire second only to Maine New Hampshire second only to Maine DES and others in New Hampshire researching health effects and promoting testing DES and others in New Hampshire researching health effects and promoting testing Private wells getting national attention Private wells getting national attention How can DES and LANH work together? How can DES and LANH work together?

Private Well Testing in N.H. Untapped Market? Graph shows number of PWS samples/year July 2011 – June 2013 (avg of two years) compared to potential market if all private wells were tested once every 10 years.

Outreach (2000 – present) Outreach (2000 – present) Private Well Working Group Private Well Working Group Legislation Legislation Since 2010 Since 2010 Dartmouth Toxic Metals Program Dartmouth Toxic Metals Program NH Pediatric Society NH Pediatric Society NH child care providers (day care) NH child care providers (day care) NH Building Officials Association – “potable” def. NH Building Officials Association – “potable” def. Brief Review of DES Private Well Initiative

... and other private well work in New Hampshire/New England New England bladder cancer study (Dartmouth & USGS, 2006): private well use increases risk New England bladder cancer study (Dartmouth & USGS, 2006): private well use increases risk 2006 Arsenic biomonitoring study (NHPHL): more than half with As > MCL did not take measures to reduce exposure 2006 Arsenic biomonitoring study (NHPHL): more than half with As > MCL did not take measures to reduce exposure USGS arsenic model (2012): 20-30% of PWs in NH have >10 ppb As (MCL) USGS arsenic model (2012): 20-30% of PWs in NH have >10 ppb As (MCL)

Sodium (250 mg/L) 1% 3 NOTES 1 Ninety-eight (98) percent of all new wellsin New Hampshireare bedrock wells. Two percent are “overburden” wellsdug, driven, ordrilledinto unconsolidatedsoil androck overlying bedrock.It is DES’ experience that overburden wells aremore vulnerable tobacteria, nitrates, iron,manganese and chloride contamination. (B. Lucey, 2009) 2 Approximately 20 percent of353 privatebedrock wellssampledfor arsenicin Hillsborough, Rockingham, and Strafford counties(which include 75% of the state’s population)exceeded the MCL. (U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet ) The percentages of wells exceeding the arsenic MCLreported inother USGSstudies suggest that arsenic concentrations in private wells vary statewide; however, thepercentages of private wells exceeding the MCL in other countiesis not known. According to personal communication from Keith Robinson, USGS (7/14/2009) “An estimated 20 percent of wells in the state have arsenic above the drinking water criteria; in some areas it is as high as one in 2 wells." 3 Percentages are derived from recent DES lab datafor private wells(samples taken between 4/2/06– 10/24/08): bacteria (N=6,196), chloride (N=4,757) copper (N=3,331, flushed samples), lead (N=3,420, flushed samples) and sodium (N=3,323).Lead and copper sample results do not include “stagnant” samples thatunder certainconditions (e.g. corrosive water)would significantly increase the percentage of wells exceeding the action level. For community water systems,EPA Action Levels for Lead and Copper must be met in at least 90 percent of sampling points, which are selected to represent locations most likely to have high levels of those contaminants. Bacteria contamination is usually related to poor well construction and/or maintenance. Estimated Percentages of Private Wells in NH Exceeding Drinking Water Standards Health-Based Aesthetic

Source: Joshua Hamilton, Marine Biological Laboratory

2009 DES Private Well Working Group Recommendations Improve public education Improve public education Amend the state building code to clearly define potable water Amend the state building code to clearly define potable water Require testing and disclosure of test results to buyers during real estate transfers. Require testing and disclosure of test results to buyers during real estate transfers.

Private Wells – National Attention American Academy of Pediatrics American Academy of Pediatrics Policy recommendations (2009) Policy recommendations (2009) Currently reviewing Bright Futures protocol Currently reviewing Bright Futures protocol Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Centers for Disease Control & Prevention National Private Well Initiative National Private Well Initiative Funding research & “interventions” on state level Funding research & “interventions” on state level

Private Well Testing AAP Recommendations (2009) States – require testing at sale of home States – require testing at sale of home Local governments Local governments Provide info about local GW conditions, recommendations for testing Provide info about local GW conditions, recommendations for testing Tests should be convenient, free or inexpensive Tests should be convenient, free or inexpensive Pediatricians Pediatricians Ask patients about private well use Ask patients about private well use Recommend testing according to algorithm Recommend testing according to algorithm American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Environmental Health and Committee on Infectious Diseases (2009). Drinking Water From Private Wells and Risks to Children. Pediatrics 2009;123;

Bright Futures Recommendation Regarding Testing for Fluoride

Municipalities That Require Private Well Testing Bow, Derry, Pelham, Salem, Windham Bow, Derry, Pelham, Salem, Windham ✓ Require testing to receive a CO (Bow) ✓ Cite RSA 147:1 Public Health Authority ✓ Refer to DES’s Standard Analysis (tests) ✓ Most require water quality testing (w/o treatment) vs. treatment Bow, Derry, Pelham, Salem, Windham Bow, Derry, Pelham, Salem, Windham Defining “potable” could change that Defining “potable” could change that

How to Interpret Results? Fact sheet for each contaminant on DES web site (“NHDES drinking water fact sheet”) Fact sheet for each contaminant on DES web site (“NHDES drinking water fact sheet”)

Radon Confusing - no single standard Confusing - no single standard 95% of wells exceed 300 pCi/L (pMCL) 95% of wells exceed 300 pCi/L (pMCL) 55% exceed 2,000 (DES RAL) 55% exceed 2,000 (DES RAL) 33% exceed 4,000 (pAMCL) 33% exceed 4,000 (pAMCL) “Leads to the deaths of an estimated 100 residents each year in N.H.” “Leads to the deaths of an estimated 100 residents each year in N.H.” Preventable thru testing & mitigation Preventable thru testing & mitigation DES: Test air and water. DES: Test air and water. Treatment: aeration, activated carbon Treatment: aeration, activated carbon

NHDES Messaging 40% of NH residents rely on private wells 40% of NH residents rely on private wells No statewide testing requirements No statewide testing requirements Natural contaminants commonly occur at unhealthy levels, esp. As and Rn Natural contaminants commonly occur at unhealthy levels, esp. As and Rn Test according to guidelines in our flyer Test according to guidelines in our flyer Everyone should test Everyone should test Visit our website or call for list of labs Visit our website or call for list of labs

Barriers? Lack of knowledge about how to test and what to test for Lack of knowledge about how to test and what to test for Complacency Complacency Inconvenience Inconvenience Lack of a perceived problem Lack of a perceived problem “Knowledge and better information by themselves were found to provide a weak basis for changing behavior.” Imgrund, et. al. (2011) “Knowledge and better information by themselves were found to provide a weak basis for changing behavior.” Imgrund, et. al. (2011)

Town-Wide Voluntary Well Testing Hollis Hollis Dublin Dublin Tuftonboro (2012, 2013?) – Conservation Commission Tuftonboro (2012, 2013?) – Conservation Commission

NHDES Proposed Project Applied for CDC funding in May 2013 Applied for CDC funding in May 2013 Part of National Private Well Initiative Part of National Private Well Initiative Project Outline Project Outline Obtain info on testing, treatment, barriers Obtain info on testing, treatment, barriers Estimate exposure & health effects Estimate exposure & health effects Community-wide testing events Community-wide testing events Web “portal” for info on well testing & quality Web “portal” for info on well testing & quality Web-based tool for choosing treatment Web-based tool for choosing treatment Measure impact on testing, etc. (partnering with LANH) Measure impact on testing, etc. (partnering with LANH)

Last Words: Good News Large untapped market Large untapped market Several respected organizations involved – raising profile of the issue Several respected organizations involved – raising profile of the issue CDC has taken notice, is providing funding CDC has taken notice, is providing funding Scientific case for testing getting stronger Scientific case for testing getting stronger Statewide guidance on “potable” could help boost testing Statewide guidance on “potable” could help boost testing NHDES is not giving up NHDES is not giving up