Memo
To: Area Laboratory Directors, Well Drillers, Homebuilders, Real-estate Agents
From: Robert Miller, MPH, RS, Director of Health
CC: Health District Staff, Ray Jarema, DPH
Date: 12/12/2005
Re: Arsenic Testing For New Private Wells Required
In a circular letter received this past summer from the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) it is recommended that arsenic be included as required analyte for all new wells in the State of Connecticut. This recommendation is based on a number of issues. First, the DPH has identified reportable levels of arsenic in public water supplies in 42 of Connecticut’s 169 towns. Second, two of those Towns, Andover and Willington, fall within the jurisdiction of the Eastern Highlands Health District. Finally, in response to mounting concern regarding the potential health risks related to arsenic exposure in drinking water, the Environmental Protection Agency is lowering the Maximum Contaminant Level for arsenic from 50 ppb to 10 ppb, effective January 2006.
Given the above referenced information and pursuant to section 19-13-B101 of the Connecticut Public Health Code, the Eastern Highlands Health District is requiring that arsenic be analyzed as part of the required suite of parameters for all new private wells within our jurisdiction, effective January 17, 2006.
Attached for your convenience is a listing of laboratories certified to analyze for arsenic in drinking water in the State of Connecticut. (Lab certifications are constantly changing. You can check the DPH website at www.dph.state.ct.us/BRS/Environmental_Lab/environmental_laboratory.htm for the most current certification status.) For those of you that do not receive the attachment it can be down loaded from the “Code and Policy” link on our website at www.ehhd.org .