Read the full article by Nancy Alderman (CT Viewpoints)
“Environment and Human Health, Inc. (EHHI) called the South Central Regional Water Authority (RWA) a month ago to determine whether they were testing the region’s water for PFAS. The RWA serves Ansonia, Bethany, Branford, Cheshire, Derby, East Haven, Hamden, Milford, New Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Orange, West Haven and Woodbridge. RWA assured us they were.
EHHI called the Metropolitan District Water Supply Company (MDC) the same day, and they informed us they were not testing for PFAS. MDC is the largest water supply company in Connecticut, serving Bloomfield, East Hartford, Hartford, Newington, Rocky Hill, West Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor.
The MDC gets its water from two large reservoirs located within the Farmington River Watershed – Barkhamsted Reservoir and Nepaug Reservoir. Barkhamsted Reservoir is the largest drinking water reservoir in Connecticut, with a capacity of 30.3 billion gallons. Nepaug Reservoir, also one of the largest in the state, has a capacity of 9.5 billion gallons…
PFAS contaminate water supplies through two main sources: firefighting foam and industrial discharges. For decades, the U.S. military has used firefighting foam containing PFAS in training exercises at hundreds of military bases around the country. Commercial airports also use firefighting foam containing PFAS. A recent Department of Defense report states that drinking water supplies at 126 military facilities have been contaminated with PFAS.
In Connecticut last year, in an incident at Bradley Airport, firefighting foam was released and contaminated the Farmington River…
We cannot know whether PFAS are contaminating our drinking water unless the water is tested. There is legislation now before the Connecticut Public Health Committee, HB 5288, requiring Connecticut’s drinking water supply companies test for PFAS. It is of the utmost importance that this bill becomes law, if we are to protect Connecticut’s citizens.”