Manchester annual drinking water test results
The Manchester Water Works just released its 2017 water quality report. The water is in conformance with EPA limits and meets stringent state and federal drinking water regulations.
MANCHESTER, NH — The Manchester Water Works just released its 2017 water quality report. The water is in conformance with EPA limits and meets stringent state and federal drinking water regulations.
The city’s PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) level is 3.28 parts per trillion (PPT). Other PFCs (perfluorinated compounds) are below reporting limits. These compounds are not currently regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act The first to mandate a PFOA limit was New Jersey, which set it at 14 PPT in November, 2017.
Cheryl Wood, Laboratory Manager for Manchester Water Works, wrote that the 3.28 PPT level of PFOA is “considered a trace amount and can also be considered as background due to the very low detection limit.”
“Please be assured that the presence of a trace amount of PFOA does not indicate any adverse water quality issue with Manchester’s water,” Wood added. The department will analyze the water again this summer for these compounds.
PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) is a nonstick chemical which has been linked to cancer, harm to children’s immune systems and other serious health problems at very low doses.
On March 20, Saint Gobain agreed to fund water upgrades for all homes in the contaminated Merrimack area. PFOA has been found in groundwater in Merrimack, Bedford, and Litchfield caused by the Saint Gobain plastics facility, with some wells shut down.
The Water Works serves a population of about 160,000 in the greater Manchester area. Its treatment facility employs 11 full-time operators 24/7/365 on three daily 8-hour shifts. It treats water from Lake Massabesic for Manchester and portions of six surrounding communities, and pumps it into a 500-mile piping network for distribution to homes and industries.
While the lake was previously surrounded by recreational facilities, they were removed in the early 20th century.
A new treatment facility located in Hooksett will add to the supply by treating water from the Merrimack River. It is estimated to be operational in 2022.
