First Test Results Show Elevated Level of PFAS in Well Water for Killingworth Town Hall & Fire Station 1

On March 30, 2021, water samples were taken at the Haddam Killingworth Intermediate/Middle School, Killingworth Elementary School, Town Hall/Fire Station, and the Killingworth Library to be tested for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Town received the results on April 22, 2021. Three of the four sample results came back below the CT Department of Public Health’s (DPH) Action Level of 70 ng/L (nanograms per liter or parts-per-trillion) for the sum of 5 PFAS compounds (perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) and perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA). One sample, from the Town Hall/Fire Station well, came back above the DPH Action Level of 70 ng/L.

PFAS water test results:

Killingworth Library – Not Detected

Killingworth Town Hall/Fire Station 1: 1788 ng/L

Killingworth Elementary School: 47 ng/L

Killingworth Intermediate/Middle School: 6 ng/L

The Department of Public Health (DPH) and Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) are aware of the results. DEEP will be expanding the scope of its investigation accordingly. DEEP will be identifying private wells close to the Killingworth Town Hall/Fire Station for sampling and will reach out directly to those residents in the near future. The Town is coordinating additional testing of the Town Hall/Fire Station well water. Both the Town Hall and Fire Station 1 have been using bottled water for consumption for decades, and this practice will continue until a treatment system is in place to reduce the levels of PFAS in the water.

The detectable levels of PFAS found at the Killingworth Intermediate/Middle School were significantly below the action level set by DPH, and therefore the use of bottled water can be discontinued at this time. The investigation at the Killingworth Elementary School will continue, and out of an abundance of caution, KES will continue to use bottled water. The Town is working with the school system to coordinate further testing at KES.

PFAS are a group of over 5,000 manmade chemicals with useful properties such as repelling water and oil, preventing staining and sticking, and increasing heat resistance. PFAS are used on and in many consumer and industrial products such as non-stick cookware, fabric coatings, food packaging and firefighting foams. However, PFAS can migrate through soil and impact water used for drinking. The main health concerns from exposure to PFAS come from studies in laboratory animals which show effects on the liver and immune system, and on growth, reproduction and fetal development.  PFAS can also affect the endocrine (e.g. thyroid) and hormonal systems and can disturb blood lipids such as cholesterol.  Studies of human populations exposed to elevated levels of PFAS generally support the effects seen in animals. Some studies of PFOA have also shown an increased risk for kidney cancer, and at very high exposure levels, for testicular cancer.  However, exposure to elevated levels of PFAS does not necessarily mean that health effects will happen.

The Town will continue to communicate as we work with DPH and DEEP to make sure our water supplies are safe. If you have any questions, you can call the Killingworth Health Department:

Amy Scholz, Killingworth Director of Health

For more information on PFAS:

CT Department of Public Health  Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (ct.gov)

CT Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection:  Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (ct.gov)

CT Interagency PFAS Task Force:  PFAS Task Force (ct.gov)