Second Well Re-sampling Event On Schedule for Spring 2017
In October and November of 2016, the State of Vermont's contractor re-sampled most of the wells in Bennington, as most had previously tested non-detect or less than 20 parts per trillion for PFOA. The State of Vermont is planning on resampling these wells again approximately six months after this last sampling event, in April-May 2017. Another way of looking at this is that all private drinking water wells that do not have treatment systems on them and are located in the Area of Interest (
see the map) will be resampled. Stay tuned and don't be surprised if you get a call to schedule a sampling event, or if the State's sampling contractor Weston & Sampson stops by to get another water sample later this Spring.
Out of 270 wells that were re-tested in Fall 2016, 258 remained below 20 parts per trillion or at non-detect levels. There were twelve homes that received re-sampling results above 20 parts per trillion and all these homes received point-of-entry treatment systems (POETs).
Final Maintenance Manual for POETs Approved by DEC
The State of Vermont has received and approved the final Operation & Maintenance Manual for the Point of Entry Systems (POET) installed on many wells in North Bennington and Bennington. This manual spells out maintenance practices required to keep POETs in good working order each year. It also outlines how water sampling should be conducted and how often.
Culligan, a Vermont licensed water treatment contractor, will continue to operate and maintain POET systems in Bennington according to the manual. Depending on where you live, either CT Male or Weston & Sampson, both environmental consulting companies, will be sampling your water supply to ensure the systems continue to filter PFOA out of the water entering your home.
Approximately two-thirds of the installed POET systems have now been subjected to 3 consecutive months of sampling and analysis. The data shows that, regardless of PFOA concentration or the amount of water used in a building, all of the POETs have steadily treated PFOA to below 20 parts per trillion. The State of Vermont will continue to ensure the proper operation of these systems and will continue to forward sampling results from your systems to you as they become available.
How is planning for the water line design work going in Bennington and North Bennington?
Contracts to begin the next planning phase of the design process were signed with Otter Creek Engineering and MSK Engineering & Design in November 2016. Since then, the contractors have completed their boots-on-the-ground assignments, including fly-overs to conduct aerial imagery acquisition, historic preservation assessments, assessing environmental conditions, and evaluating potential water quality impacts. That field data has been brought into the office for analysis and planning in order to estimate all expenses and logistics associated with municipal line extensions. The contractors are on target to wrap up their work by early spring, as outlined in the contracts.