UPDATED: 15% of private wells tested in Blades have high levels of PFCs

UPDATED 3/7 – 3 more private wells surrounding Blades found to be contaminated with industrial chemicals. Yesterday DNREC announcing the results of a new batch of tests from the EPA. So far, about 15% of private wells tested have been confirmed to have elevated levels of PFCs. Anyone on private wells can still request drinking and cooking water from Blades Town Hall, and if your wells test positive for PFCs, a home carbon-filtration system will be supplied to you.    _________________________________________________________________  UPDATED 3/1 – The Town of Blades water is clean to drink, however, people on private wells are still getting word if their drinking water has elevated levels of chemicals. So far, the EPA has found high levels of PFCs in 10% of private wells tested. Homeowners with affected wells are being provided home carbon filtration systems similar to the one installed for the town. Clean drinking water is still available to local residents at Town Hall. There is another public meeting tonight at 7 PM at the Blades Fire Hall where DNREC and DPH officials will provide updates and answer questions from residents.

UPDATED – 2-26-18 – The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), the Division of Public Health (DPH) and the Town of Blades continue to provide alternative water for drinking and cooking to Blades and area residents on private wells who request it. Beginning Monday, Feb. 26, water will be distributed from Blades Town Hall, 20 West Fourth Street, Blades, DE 19973 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

======================================================

UPDATED – 2-24-18 – The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), the Division of Public Health (DPH) and the Town of Blades continue to provide alternative water for drinking and cooking to Blades and area residents on private wells who request it. Hours for water distribution are Noon to 8 p.m. at the Blades Fire Hall, 200 East Fifth Street, Blades, DE 19973. Starting Monday, Feb. 26, water will be distributed from the Blades Town Hall, 20 West Fourth Street, Blades, DE 19973, with hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

DNREC and DPH earlier this week announced that carbon filtration has significantly lowered perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in the Town of Blades water system below the US Environmental Protection Agency’s health advisory level for PFCs, and that the town’s water is safe for drinking and cooking upon completion of residents’ flushing of their home water systems.

DNREC, DPH and the Town of Blades also have scheduled a second public meeting on the town’s drinking water and private well water in the area. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 1 at the Blades Fire Hall. Representatives from both state agencies and the town will present updates on Blades’ area drinking water and will answer questions.

======================================================

UPDATED – 2-23-18 – The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), the Division of Public Health (DPH), and the Town of Blades continued to recommend that residents who are on the town’s public water system from Blades’ new carbon filtration system flush the water, if they haven’t already, through their homes before using town water for drinking, cooking, and brushing teeth.

The two state agencies announced Thursday that carbon filtration has significantly lowered perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in the town’s water system significantly below the US Environmental Protection Agency’s health advisory level for PFCs, and that the town’s water is safe for everyday use as above upon completion of residents’ flushing of their home water systems.

=============================================

UPDATED – 2-22-18 – The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), the Division of Public Health (DPH), and the Town of Blades today announced that the town’s new carbon filtration system has significantly lowered perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) in the town’s water system below the US Environmental Protection Agency’s health advisory level for PFCs, and that the town’s water will be safe for drinking and cooking upon completion of residents’ flushing of their home water systems.

Results from testing of the town’s water after carbon filtration returned a PFC level of 3.4 parts per trillion (3.4 ppt) compared to EPA’s health advisory of 70 ppt.

Blades has completed the flushing of municipal water through carbon filtration. As the final step in the process for removing PFCs from the town’s water, residents who are on public water are recommended to begin flushing water through their homes before using it for drinking, cooking, and brushing teeth.

Blades residents should begin flushing their homes by following these steps in order:

1. Turn on outside faucets for 10 minutes. All faucets can be turned on at once. Shut off faucets after 10 minutes.
2. Turn bathtub faucets/showers on full Hot until the water cools. All bathtub faucets/showers should be turned on at the same time. Shut off bathtub faucets/showers after water from the fixtures starts to cool.
3. Turn other faucets on one at a time for 5 minutes each (Hot and Cold can be turned on simultaneously). Start on the first floor and continue to the second floor and any additional levels.
4. Showers and tubs should be run a second time until Hot water cools, out of an abundance of caution.
5. Flush all toilets one time.
6. Remove and dispose of all ice from refrigerator ice makers. If you also have a water dispenser on your refrigerator, run three gallons of water through it.
7. Tankless water heaters or point-of-use (e.g. under the sink) water heaters, if in use, should be flushed for 30 minutes.

NOTE: This plan is for single-family residential properties ONLY. Commercial, industrial, institutional, and multi-family units need to be advised on a case-by-case basis. Anyone who has questions can call the DPH Office of Drinking Water at 302-741-8630, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

DNREC and DPH continue to provide Blades and area residents with private wells with alternative water for drinking and cooking needs. Hours for water distribution are Noon to 8 p.m. at the Blades Fire Hall, 200 East Fifth Street, Blades, DE 19973.

=================================================

UPDATED – 2/21/18 – The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Division of Public Health today continue to monitor the Town of Blades’ flushing of the public water supply through the town’s new carbon filtration system. As Blades prepares to return to full use of public water, town residents will be receiving instructions in the near future for flushing their home water systems.

As sampling results come in for private wells in the Blades area, DNREC and DPH will be reaching out to those impacted residents. Assistance will be provided with their drinking water supply if test results warrant it.

DNREC and DPH continue to provide the Town of Blades and area residents with alternative water for drinking and cooking needs. Hours for water distribution are Noon to 8 p.m. at the Blades Fire Hall, 200 East Fifth Street, Blades, DE 19973. While Blades flushes municipal water through the carbon filtration system, area residents are encouraged to continue using the water provided by DNREC and DPH.

For the drinking and cooking water provided daily by the Delaware National Guard at the Blades Fire Hall, area residents should remember to bring their own containers for filling.

====================================================

UPDATED – 2/19/18 – The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the Division of Public Health, and the Town of Blades reminds town and area residents that the hours for water distribution changed today to Noon – 8 p.m. at the Blades Fire Hall, 200 East Fifth Street, Blades, DE 19973. The town’s public water system is on carbon filtration to remove perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), but Blades and nearby area residents are encouraged to continue using the water provided by DNREC and DPH for drinking, cooking and brushing teeth until results of samples taken Friday by EPA are returned later this week.

As Blades prepares to return to full use of public water, residents will be provided instructions this week for flushing their home water systems. While Blades continues flushing municipal water through the new filtration system, residents may see water flowing from town hydrants.

For the drinking water provided daily by the Delaware National Guard at the Blades Fire Hall, Town of Blades and nearby residents should remember to bring their own containers for filling.

=======================================================

UPDATED – 2/18/18 – Work to flush the Town of Blades water supply through the new carbon filtration system is continuing.  DNREC and Public Health officials say the town’s water system is now fully on the new carbon filtration which will remove the PFCs from the water supply.  Samples were taken Friday by the EPA – the results should be back next week.  However until those results are known, Blades and nearby residents are encouraged to continue using alternative water available at the Blades Fire Hall for drinking, cooking and brushing your teeth.

=============================================

Original story – 2/15/18 – A new carbon filtration system arrived in Blades yesterday. DNREC, Public Health, and Blades engineers all working to install and connect the towns water supply to the system.

However, officials cautioned Tuesday night it could take up to 2 weeks before the system is installed, flushed, primed, and the water tested to make sure the filter is working properly.

Until then, residents should continue to get drinking and cooking water from the National Guard at the Blades Fire Hall, although officials say residents can use tap water for bathing, laundry, and other household chores.