Concord, NH - The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) announced today that it has received drinking water well results for several properties in the Lexington and Ledge Road area of Windham, New Hampshire that showed elevated concentrations of perfluorochemicals (PFCs), including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). NHDES initiated testing in this area based on information related to industrial use of PFCs at Central Metal Finishing, Inc., located on Lexington Road. Four wells have tested above the state Ambient Groundwater Quality Standard (AGQS) of 70 parts per trillion (ppt), ranging in concentrations of 70.4 ppt to 396 ppt.

NHDES has collected additional drinking water well samples in the area and is working closely with the Town of Windham on reaching out to property owners who have been unresponsive to initial requests to test their wells. Additionally, NHDES has worked closely with the Windham School Administrative Unit (SAU) to test the Windham Schools given their proximity to the area being investigated. PFOS and PFOA were not detected at the Windham High School. Analysis of the Center School samples detected low concentrations of both PFOA and PFOS. The levels detected in two separate tests of the Center School well were 21.5 parts per trillion (ppt) of both PFOA and PFOS combined, and 17.29 ppt. Although no action is required to mitigate PFCs found in the school drinking water below the state standard, the SAU, working in conjunction with NHDES, has developed a well monitoring plan and has researched water treatment options for the Center School.

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Posted 6/10/17