Abbreviated as PERC, the compound tetrachloroethane probably came from a time when it found itself used heavily in manufacturing, industrial and agricultural activities… a time before scientists and health officials determined that exposure to compounds like tetrachloroethane could have lasting, negative effects on human health.

Potential health problems caused by tetrachloroethane include:

• Chronic damage of liver, nerves, kidneys, organs that form blood in the body.
• More immediate effects of tetrachloroethane may include, but are not limited to, symptoms such as dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, stomach pains, nausea, vomiting, weakness, and in more extreme cases even unconsciousness and death.

So, where did the contaminant come from? Good question. Many compounds now labeled as environmental contaminants previously found themselves used extensively in society for a wide variety of applications. In the case of tetrachloroethane, one could have easily encountered it in use as a solvent, as part of a metal or cleaner or grease remover, and in various paint/rust removal compounds. Additionally, for a while tetrachloroethane also served as an insecticide, fumigant, and weedkiller.

Getting back to the story

The New Jersey District Attorney’s Office has indicted both the Executive Director and Assistant Executive Director of the East Orange Water Commission on a number of charges stemming from allegations that they knowingly “directed that the contaminated wells be turned off several days prior to taking samples for testing and then turned back on for pumping to the reservoir after sampling. In this manner, they allegedly falsified test results to comply with the DEP requirement that the running annual average level of PERC under normal operating conditions not exceed 1 microgram per liter (µg/L) or part per billion…” ( source )

Officials have also charged the pair with other charges related to allegations that they knowingly directed water from wells known to have unacceptable levels of tetrachloroethane into the nearby Passaic River in Florham Park — a clear violation of the New Jersey Water Pollution Control Act.

Moral of the story?

Quite frankly, the alleged actions of the accused threatened the health and welfare of thousands of people who trusted their tap water and, in the grand scheme of things, the rest of us, as well.

Water moves all over and around our planet and with it also travel any contaminants it has picked up along the way — like, for example, the tetrachloroethane allegedly released into the Passaic River in this instance.

Don’t think for an instant that a water pollution incident on the other side of the state, country or even planet will not eventually, in some way, shape or form, have an effect on the quality of the water coming out of your well or faucet.

You may not realize it, but on some small level, each and every water quality disaster since the dawn of time has contributed to the quality of the water we all have today.

Reducing contaminants (like tetrachloroethane) in your water

If after having your water tested professionally — because no home drinking water test kits can detect compounds like tetrachloroethane — you discover that your water contains tetrachloroethane, we suggest you seriously consider installing a water filtration system NSF/ANSI 53 Certified to reduce the levels of contaminants listed in a category known as VOC’s (Volatile Organic Chemicals).

For more information on the VOC’s whose levels NSF/ANSI 53 Certified devices reduce, we suggest reviewing the following post we wrote a while back: NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for VOC Reduction

Hundreds of Stamford residents have registered for the health department’s new water testing program scheduled to launch early next month, leaving about a third of the tests budgeted for this fiscal year available.

Officials are encouraging Stamford homeowners to sign up for the public service, which is mandated under a new city ordinance the Board of Representatives approved late last year. The Health Department will share the data it gathers with state health and environmental agencies in an effort to better understand the scope of water contamination in the area of Scofieldtown Park.

The park is the site of a former landfill and had been thought for years to be the source of potentially cancer-causing chemicals discovered in nearby wells in 2009.

…

Premier Laboratory in Dayville won a competitive bid to perform the testing at a rate of $89.50 per test, Murray said. Homeowners will be charged a flat $100 fee, which will cover the cost of the test itself as well as mailing, printing and logistical expenses associated with the program. Murray said the public service is a good deal for Stamford residents, who would likely pay between $200 and $300 to have their well water tested privately. ( source )

Granted the testing will still cost residents $100, but one has to admit that the fee definitely ranks as a pretty decent bargain considering the alternative: full price. Local officials encourage residents to take advantage of this water testing deal and so do we.

A problem with well water clearly exists in that area and only a properly implemented (thorough) testing of well water in the region surrounding the suspected contamination site will allow officials to get a real good look at the scope and magnitude of the problem.

Removing and/or reducing VOC’s in drinking water?

Naturally the question that follows the discovery of contaminants in one’s drinking water has to do with how to remove or reduce them to ‘safe’ levels. In the article one family had a carbon block filter of some sort installed. Below you will find an example of a carbon block filter hooked up to the Pentek RO-3500 currently offered by numerous online water filter systems vendors like FiltersFast.Com.