PFOA Contamination Response: Community Updates
Week of 03/28/2016
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communityCommunity Updates: What to expect
Starting next week, the Department of Environmental Conservation will be sending regular weekly updates to community members every Thursday, in an effort to be consistent and comprehensive in our communications to you. Important news releases may be shared immediately outside of weekly Thursday updates.

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SurfacewaterSurface water testing results from Bennington area creeks, rivers, ponds
MONTPELIER, MARCH 31 - Gov. Peter Shumlin today provided an update on surface water testing from Bennington and North Bennington. Ten water samples were taken for testing from local creeks and ponds at locations around the former Chemfab facilities to help determine the source and extent of PFOA contamination.

Surface water concentrations of PFOA ranged from no detection (less than 7 parts per trillion) to 79 parts per trillion. The Health Department states that the PFOA levels found in the water bodies are much lower than levels that would be a risk to people who swim there.

To continue reading the full press release, click here .
BenningtonNorth Bennington Update
Water Treatment Systems Installations Continue in North Bennington--
Fifty-one point-of-entry water treatment systems (POETs) have been installed in homes of residents affected by PFOA contamination. This is about half of the expected installations. Private well sampling within the 1.5mile radius and in the identify expanded areas continues.  
 
Planning underway to explore municipal water supply extension to homes with affected private wells--
On Wednesday of this week, representatives and engineers from the North Bennington and Bennington Water Departments , Saint-Gobain, and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)met to discuss extending the municipal water lines to serve residents of both communities who have confirmed levels of PFOA in their private wells. The meeting was very productive. Engineers from both Water Departments came prepared to discuss options and collaborated on the best solutions and options. The Engineers from the Water Departments are preparing a planning study which will outline a proposed project and include a cost estimate to complete a preliminary engineering report. The engineering study should take about 1 month to complete.

Information Center--
The Information Center at 324 Main Street in Bennington will close after Friday, April 1st. The map and information will remain available in a room in the Vermont Department of Health for interested individuals. Please call 2-1-1 with questions or concerns about PFOA, or visit http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/PFOA.htm.

Requesting a water sample? Online form now available.
DEC is still collecting samples from homes with a water supply well within the area of interest surrounding the former Chemfab plant (see VTDEC web site map for details). If your well has not been sampled yet, please file a request using an online form for Bennington-area residents .
Bennington Update
Continued water sampling--
DEC staff collected water samples from residences with private wells near the Chemfab facility's old location on Northside Drive in Bennington. Results from wells in this area are expected within 2 weeks. Officials are working on plans to connect one home that tested positive for PFOA in preliminary drinking water testing to Bennington's municipal water supply.

Requesting a water sample? Online form now available.
DEC is still collecting samples from homes with a water supply well within the area of interest surrounding the former Chemfab plant (see VTDEC web site map for details). If your well has not been sampled yet, please file a request using an online form for Bennington-area residents .
PownalPownal Update
Pownal Water Sampling Begins--
DEC staff collected water samples on Wednesday from 58 locations within a 1-mile radius of the former Warren Wire facility located of Route 346 in Pownal. The team will be back out on Monday, April 4th to collect more samples from residents in the area. Residents within a mile can sign up for well testing using this online form, or by calling 2-1-1.

Additional water samples were collected by the EPA from four locations around the former Warren Wire Plant #3 in Pownal. 
 
Bottled water pick-up hours in Pownal--
Bottled water remains available for pick-up to all residents of Pownal at the Pownal Rescue Squad building on 22 Ladd Brook Road, from 3-7pm Monday-Sunday. Starting the week of April 4th, bottled water pick-up hours will be 4-7pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Three additional water filling stations remain available 24 hours at Burdick Trailer Park, Green Mountain Mobile Home Park, and Alta Garden Estates.

What to do with empty water bottles and jugs--
Please return empty water jugs to the Rescue Squad station in Pownal to be refilled or recycled.
Empty water bottles should be recycled at home, or brought to the transfer station in Pownal with other household trash and recyclables. The Pownal Transfer Station on Maple Grove Road is open Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 8am-4pm. Visit Bennington County Solid Waste Alliance for more information about trash and recycling options.

infoInformation Resources Available
For general PFOA questions and concerns:
 Call 2-1-1.
Visit: Vermont DEC PFOA Response Page

For questions about potential health effects of PFOA:
Call the Vermont Department of Health toll-free at 800-439-8550.
Visit: Vermont Department Health PFOA Page