Important Well Water Contamination Statement from RTK

“This Should Be a Wakeup Call to Fairfield and Westchester County Residents to Have Their Well Water Tested Regularly”

Robert Weitz, certified microbial investigator and principal of RTK Environmental Group in Stamford, issued the following statement in response to a Connecticut health department report that 70 percent of private well water tested in Stamford sampled tested positive for uranium contamination.

“It is not a surprise that uranium contamination is pervasive in private wells, as the element occurs naturally in much of the bedrock in Connecticut and nearby Westchester County. But it has come to light because the Department of Public Health has wisely expanded its water testing to include heavy-metal contaminants. We have tested thousands of wells over the years, and uranium is found repeatedly.

“My advice would be that homeowners with private wells shouldn’t panic, but it would be prudent to switch to bottled water for drinking and cooking until their well water is tested -- not only for uranium and arsenic, but radon, carcinogenic pesticides, and heavy metals like lead.

“If uranium and other contaminants are found, the problem can be remedied by installing the appropriate filtration systems. But we advise against using a filtration company to test your well water, as there is a clear conflict of interest. Hire an independent testing company, instead. 

“This should be a wakeup call to Fairfield and Westchester County residents to have your water tested regularly, at least once a year, as recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Administration.”