http://www.mariettatimes.com/news/story/new33_3102006125025.asp
March 10, 2006
The Marietta Times (Ohio)
Little Hocking
system still not filtered
By Brad Bauer
DuPont officials are waiting on the Little Hocking Water Association
to approve design plans so the company can move forward with the
installation of a filter to remove traces of C8 from the water
system.
DuPont is installing the filtration system at six local water
systems as part of a court settlement reached last year.
Little Hocking water has the highest concentrations
of C8 of the affected water systems, but is the furthest from
having filters installed.
Customers in the water system are eligible to have bottled water
delivered to their homes, but some say they’re ready to
go back to using their faucets.
“It is a little bit of a nuisance to use the bottled water
and I would really like to go back to using a tap,” said
Little Hocking Water Association customer Dave Freeman. “But,
if we didn’t have the alternative, I think I would be more
concerned.”
The chemical C8, also known as ammonium perfluorooctanoate or
PFOA, has been used by DuPont since 1951 at its Washington Works
plant in the production of Teflon, which is used in a variety
of consumer goods, including non-stick cookware.
It was recently reported by the federal Environmental Protection
Agency that the chemical is a “likely” carcinogen
to humans. The EPA’s review is ongoing.
DuPont officials say once Little Hocking officials approve the
plans, regulatory approval will be required by Ohio EPA. After
that, construction is expected to take about two months.
“DuPont has worked with Little Hocking and its technical
experts for well over a year to develop extensive design plans,
and has also purchased property to overcome a flood-plain issue
with the existing well field,” said Robin Ollis, DuPont
spokeswoman. “DuPont believes the design is ready for regulatory
approval, a necessary step before construction can begin.”
DuPont is reporting filtration systems are installed and functioning
at Belpre, Pomeroy and Tupers Plains. Belpre’s water filtration
system started late last week. The Pomeroy system has been operating
since mid-February, and tests show the filtration system is working
according to design.
“The test results for that water system were non-detect
through the entire filtration system,” Ollis said.
Test results from the other systems were not complete, but expected
to also show no traces of C8 in the drinking water.
Bob Griffin, Little Hocking Water Association general manager,
said the filtration plans are “getting close to being able
to submit to Ohio EPA.”
Griffin said Little Hocking may have fallen
behind because a building site out of the flood-plain had to be
acquired to install the filtration system.
Also, the filtration system sought for
the water association was not identical to the other systems being
installed.
“Our design is probably a little
more complicated than the rest,” Griffin said.
Griffin said the design will incorporate
four vessels, each holding 20,000 pounds of activated carbon,
that will remove C8 and other chemicals from the system’s
water.
The system incorporates several backups and detection warnings
when the carbon filters need replaced.
Griffin said even though DuPont is heading up the project, the
Ohio EPA holds Little Hocking Water Association responsible for
providing safe water to its customers.
Vincent resident Joan Hendrickson, 71, said she is concerned
about how long the project is taking.
“I’ve been using bottled water for years,”
Hendrickson said. “I don’t even give my animals water
out of the spigot because of this.”
Copyright © 2006 — The Marietta Times
