Presented by: Steven Spayd, PhD, MPH, PG - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Presented by:Steven Spayd, PhD, MPH, PGResearch Scientist & HydrogeologistNew Jersey Geological & Water Surveysteve.spayd@dep.nj.gov

Innovative Private Well Testing for Geogenic Contaminants:

Arsenic, Boron, and Radionuclides in NJ

Slide2

About 1.2 million people using 400,000 private wells The NJ Private Well Testing Act (PWTA) requires sellers or buyers of properties to test well waterAbout 100,000 wells tested through PWTA so farThat leaves 300,000 (75%) private wells untested via PWTA

NJ Private Wells

Slide3

Naturally Occurring Radionuclides and Arsenic

Related to Human Activities

Data through March 2014. 86,767 wells tested.

NJ PWTA Data

Slide4

pH in Private Well Water

Geogenic Factors on Well Water Quality

Geology

Slide5

Estimated Private Well Usage in NJ*

*Source: NJ BRFSS 2015

NJ’s Private Well Testing Act

ARSENIC

Slide6

NJ’s

Private

Well Testing Act - Arsenic

http://arcg.is/1CPkHyC

Slide7

Township Private Well Data 2002-2014

Available at http://www.nj.gov/dep/dsr/pwta/index.htm

Slide8

Arsenic in Well Water Often Occurs with Other ContaminantsIron and ManganeseRadioactive Elements: Uranium, Radium, and Radon

BoronKills plantsKills antsIn mammals, it is toxic to the male reproductive system (mice, rats, and dogs).

Slide9

Arsenic and Boron in well water are:

colorless

odorless

tasteless

The only way to know is to test the water

Slide10

Private Well Testing Outreach Through Schools in Two Hunterdon County Townships

Two townships selected because100% private well useHigh arsenic vulnerability (24 - 43% PWTA exceedance of Arsenic MCL)

At-risk for arsenic and boron well water contamination based on a USGS studyA resident with high arsenic and boron in water also had high levels of both in hair

Interest of community partners (Environmental Commissions and School Boards)

Slide11

Well Water Education

6, 7, and 8

th

Grade

Slide12

Every student K-8 took home a bottle with flyer attached.

Slide13

Easy Water Test Instructions & Return Slip

Slide14

Private Well School Outreach ResultsWe were able to collect 428 water samples from 376 individual private wells for arsenic and boron within

one week

Arsenic Exceedance Rate: 25%

Boron Exceedance Rate: Overall: 5% - Red Circle Area: 16%

Slide15

Hunterdon Healthcare System Arsenic Outreach with Columbia UniversityInitial Project:

Private Well and Arsenic Health Effects Education for PhysiciansGrand Rounds Seminar at Medical Center

Arsenic Water Test Kits Provided in 5 ClinicsClinic Test Kits - 350 kits to Clinics

Returned: 113 test kitsHomes with: Kids 53%, Pregnant Women 7%16% have arsenic over 5 ppb MCL Second phase of project: Large-scale online portal-based targeted message blast (over 12,000 messages)Reinforced with billboards, Facebook Ads, and Facebook Live discussions on Earth Day 2018 and 2019Portal Blast - 457 test kits requested/mailed320 test kits returned

Homes with: Kids 83%, Pregnant Women 8%

9% have arsenic over 5 ppb MCL

Slide16

Poster & Flyer in Doctor Offices With Free Water Test Kits

Slide17

Roadside Billboards

on Two Highways in the Arsenic Area

Slide18

Announced at a Township Committee Meeting

Covered in Local Newspapers

Posted on the Township Website

Flyers distributed at Post Offices and Day Care Centers

Outreach in Area Suspected of Having Elevated Radionuclides

Slide19

Highest Gross Alpha in a NJ Private

Well was Confirmed at 2,000 pCi/L

Radon in Water up to 150,000 pCi/L

Slide20

Outreach in High Radium and Nitrate Area

Partnership meetings with Environmental CommissionOutreach:

Flyers distributedFacebook posts

Online sign-up form/short questionnaire

Slide21

Contaminants and Health EffectsGross-alpha

measures radioactivity in well water. When detected at high levels there is an increased risk of cancer. Nitrate

contamination often results from fertilizers or septic systems. High levels in infants can cause “blue baby syndrome,” an illness which decreases oxygen in blood supply.

Total coliform while itself is not harmful, indicates the presence of bacteria in the water which can lead to gastrointestinal illness.

Slide22

Event LogisticsContacted participants to schedule water sample collection

Water sample collection by local certified laboratory Raw and treated samples June – July NJ DOH State Laboratory conducted testing

Results letters provided health-based recommendations for each home

Slide23

Nitrates

Slide24

Gross Alpha in Water

Because the alpha source in this area is radium with 5 pCi/L Standard, 74% Fail

Slide25

Take Home MessagesNew Jersey leads the nation in private well testing via our Private Well Testing Act with 100,000 private wells tested.

However, only 25% of our private wells have been tested so far through the PWTA, leaving 300,000 (75%) of our private wells untested

via PWTA.Innovative outreach methods are needed to convince people to test their private well water.In these outreach events, we were able to test 1,100 additional private wells in high risk areas.

Local and County Health Departments should consider future water testing outreach efforts in high risk areas through schools, community events, and new innovative approaches.

Slide26

AcknowledgementsNJDOH: Jessie Gleason and Elizabeth Taggert

NJDEP-DSREH: Nick Procopio and Judy Louis (retired)

NJDEP-NJGWS: Greg Herman (retired), John Curran (retired), Mike Serfes (retired), Yelena

Stroiteleva, Brady Lubenow, Megan Rockafellow-Baldoni, Rachel Filo, Corrine Kosar, Michelle Spencer, Mike Gagliano, Gregg Steidl, Brian Buttari, James Boyle, Eileen Capitoli, Lacey Pitman, Don Monteverde, Ted Pallis, Ray Bousenberry

, and Steve Reya

NJDEP-BER:

Jenny Goodman, Anita

Kopera

, James McCullough, and Chuck Renaud

Columbia University:

Sara Flanagan, Stuart

Braman

, Steve

Chillrud

, Yan Zheng, and Joe Graziano

Slide27

Any Questions?Steve Spayd, PhD, MPH, PGResearch Scientist & Hydrogeologist

NJ Geological & Water SurveyMail Code 29-01, PO Box 420 Trenton, New Jersey 08625

609-984-6587steve.spayd@dep.nj.gov