​Saint-Gobain to Begin Water Line Extension​ to Litchfield Residents​

CONCORD, NH — The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) and Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics announced on Oct. 14, 2016, that work will soon begin to connect 360 Litchfield homes to the Pennichuck public water system, according to a press statement. Unless unforeseen early winter weather interferes, 173 of the homes are expected to be connected by the end of this year.

The work on the remaining Litchfield homes will be completed in 2017, and in the interim these homes will receive point-of-use (POU) filters until they are fully connected to the public water system.

“NHDES recognizes that Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics is now taking another important step toward providing clean drinking water to residents in Litchfield,” said Tom Burack, NHDES Commissioner. “NHDES is pleased that the Litchfield waterline project will soon be breaking ground in an effort to connect as many residents as possible prior to the onset of winter.”

In May 2016, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics agreed to fund the engineering design work by Pennichuck Corp. for the potential expansion of the existing public water system in Litchfield, in addition to funding the provision of bottled water to homes in the vicinity of the company’s Merrimack plant whose private wells contained elevated levels of PFOA. In August, NHDES and Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics announced arrangements with Pennichuck Corp. to secure bids for the project.

“We are pleased the connections will mean clean drinking water that meets or exceeds state and national advisory levels for these residents,” said Tom Kinisky, president and CEO of Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics. “That has been and remains our primary concern, and we will continue to work with the state to ensure this goal is met.”

ALSO READ:

• Elevated Concentrations of PFCs Found Near Former Coakley Landfill
• NH DES: Water Delivery Expanded in Amherst
• State to Host Southern NH Contaminated Water Meeting
• Elevated Levels of PFCs Found Near Former Salem Landfill
• NHDES Hosts Bedford PFOA Meeting on June 2
• Bedford Residents Now Getting Bottled Water
• EPA Releases New 'Lifetime' PFOA Exposure Level Data
• NH DES: Elevated Levels of PFOA Found in Amherst
• Plant Agrees to Fund Design Costs for Potential Public Water Extension
• PFOA Water Test Update: 400 Receiving Bottled Water
• Merrimack Plant Samples: PFOA Up to 5,800 PPT
• State Expands PFOA Water Investigation
• State Releases More PFOA Data, Maps
• New Well Tests Show Higher Levels of PFOA
• Perfluorooctanoic Acid Found in Merrimack Water
• NH DES Releases PFOA Drinking Water Test Results
• State to Discuss PFOA Water Test Results Next Week
• Perfluorooctanoic Acid Found in Bedford Water
• Contaminants Found in Pease Drinking Water
• 19 Pease Water Contaminant Questions & Answers

Work is also currently in progress to connect 15 Merrimack homes and 26 Manchester homes to the municipal water lines of the Merrimack Village District and Manchester Water Works, respectively. Although PFOA levels were below the State’s regulatory standard of 70 parts per trillion in the private wells at most of the Manchester homes, Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics agreed to fund the connection of all 26 residences to the municipal water system at NHDES’s request. The work is expected to be completed this fall.

NHDES and Pennichuck Water Corporation, at the request of the Litchfield Board of Selectmen, invite and encourage Litchfield residents with impacted drinking water wells to attend a public meeting to discuss the public water supply project.

• Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, at 7 p.m.
• Campbell High School auditorium
• 1 Highlander Court, Litchfield

At that time, affected property owners will have the opportunity to complete the necessary paperwork to help ensure the prompt connection of their homes to the public water supply.

Submitted by Jim Martin.