Contaminants Found in Pease Drinking Water

A well that serves the Pease International Tradeport and the Air National Guard Base at Pease has tested positive for a drinking water contaminant known as perfluorooctane sulfonic acid.

The New Hampshire Division of Public Health Services, state Department of Environmental Services and the city of Portsmouth announced the contamination May 21.

The contaminant level exceeds the “provisional health advisory” set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The well was immediately shut down by the City of Portsmouth.

"The City of Portsmouth takes water quality and safety seriously and is working closely with the agencies to learn more about this unregulated compound," said Brian Goetz, Portsmouth's Deputy Director of Public Works. "In the meantime, the Haven Well will remain off line."

19 FAQ on PFCs

More information released Thursday from the state DES:

"PFOS is one of a family of chemicals called PFCs for perfluorochemicals. PFCs have been used for decades in many commercial products, such as stain-resistant carpeting, fire-fighting foam, nonstick cookware, fabric coatings, and some food packaging. As a result, they are found throughout the environment. They are also very persistent, and do not break down readily in the environment, or in our bodies. Consequently, PFCs can be detected in the blood stream of most people.

The other two wells at Pease did not contain PFCs above the provisional health advisory level. The water supply for the City of Portsmouth was checked as well out of an abundance of caution."

Dr. José Montero, director of Public Health at the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, said on the call that little is known about the health effects, "if any," from the compounds in question.

Sarah Pillsbury, administrator of the Public Drinking Water Program at DES, said the state would continue to work with the city of Portsmouth to monitor and address the PFCs in the wells at Pease.