Related — Water quality expert: Dayton chemical concerns demand monitoring, attention

— Official: Substance found in area drinking water for third month

“DAYTON, Ohio — A potentially dangerous substance once used as a firefighting foam at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base that infiltrated groundwater and prompted the shutdown of several Dayton water wells has now been detected in drinking water bound for customers.

The system operators, however, say the level of polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) is well below allowable limits.

Both the city of Dayton and Montgomery County are sending customers notices with the results of recent testing of treated water leaving the city’s Ottawa Water Treatment Plant. The results of March testing show PFAS detected at a level of 7-13 parts per trillion.

Officials stress that level is significantly below the EPA health advisory limit of 70 ppt for lifetime exposure, but it marks the first time PFAS have been detected in water after the treatment process…

Dayton’s well fields supply water for 400,000 residents in multiple jurisdictions. In addition to Dayton they include those in Centerville, Harrison Twp., Kettering, Miami Twp., Washington Twp., and others…

Joe Tuss, Montgomery County administrator, said the county, in coordination with the city, will begin testing water within the distribution system for PFAS…

Seven drinking water production wells were turned off last year at Dayton’s Huffman Dam well field as a precaution, officials said earlier. Monitoring wells detected polyfluroalkyl substances on site. In the last six months, Dayton has installed 77 of 150 additional monitoring wells to help isolate the sources of PFAS and to optimize pumping, according to the city.

At certain levels, the substances can cause major health concerns. Studies indicate high-level exposure to the contaminant may lead to testicular and liver cancer; changes in cholesterol; low birth weight in newborns; liver tissue damage; and effects on the immune system and thyroid, according to the U.S. EPA.”

Read the full article by Chris Stewart