BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — 28/22 News is getting a clearer picture about how to solve a serious water contamination issue in Columbia County. We first reported on "forever chemicals" detected in private well water in March.
28/22 News Reporter Gianna Galli, the latest from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), as more wells become contaminated and more people become worried.
At least another 50 wells have been tested, and the number of contaminated ones has increased.
DEP has begun installing home filtration systems for impacted homes that volunteered for one.
On Wednesday, 28/22 News learned more about the system and spoke with a couple who are still wary about it.
Lori and her husband, Doyle Shadle, are on the list of Columbia County residents without clean well water. High levels of PFAS were found in the couple's private well in January.
"I feel like it is going to escalate even beyond," Lori stated.
And it has.
The DEP has now identified five home wells with high levels of PFAS in Mount Pleasant Township, an area outside the original point of investigation.
It has also sampled more than 114 wells for PFAS near the Brookside Mobile Home Park, where the contamination was first discovered; 42 of those wells were found to have levels of PFAS above the drinking water standard.
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"We will probably get a filtration system. They are going to have to fix this issue," Doyle said.
The filtration product DEP is offering to install at no cost to affected homeowners is through Culligan Water Treatment Systems and Solutions.
In late April, DEP's contractors began to install the first Point of Entry Treatment System (POETS) on private drinking water wells in the area where the contamination was first discovered.
The acceptance agreement that affected homeowners are receiving states the following:
"I understand that I will be responsible for maintaining the POETS at my own expense, including regularly scheduled change-out of the treatment media, should DEP's final response decision include a POETS to permanently address the contamination in my well water.
In other words, homeowners will get free installation, but are responsible for upkeep.
"We were given a number around $2,000, maybe every 18 months to two years. That's pretty big," Lori continued.
28/22 News has yet to confirm the maintenance cost with DEP.
As of this week, DEP says four poets have been installed.
The Shadle's have lived in their home since 1982 and say these chemicals were always a concern, but even more now than ever.
"Whether it was bio sludge or landfills, whatever. PFAS is becoming quite the hot topic, if you will. These forever chemicals. We are in a hurry to get safe water, but I want to make sure it's done the proper way," Lori added.
You can find more information about the POETs filtration system agreement, installation process, and the HSCA's investigation online.
