The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) had been working with the
EPA to determine if there was a potential for the Town of Blades drinking water wells to contain perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) due to manufacturing processes that have historically operated in the area.
DNREC undertook water testing and discovered an elevated level of PFCs above EPA’s established human health advisory.
DNREC and the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) began notifying the Town of Blades February 8, 2018 out of an abundance of caution for residents not to drink water from the town’s municipal wells.
Town of Blades and area private wells drinking water supply DNREC testing discovered the elevated level of PFCs, a large group of man-made chemicals used in industry and consumer products, in the town’s wells. PFCs do not occur naturally, but are widespread in the environment and are found in people, wildlife, and fish.
All three municipal drinking water wells exceeded the national health advisory of combined PFOs/PFOA of 70 parts per trillion (70/ppt). These ranged from 96.2/ppt to 187.1/ppt.
There are some health concerns, primarily associated with long-term exposures affecting the immune system and increasing the risk of cancer.
More research is needed, but the water filrers are being put in place to mitigate exposures.