Manchester Takes 2 Wells Out Of Service Due To Radium

MANCHESTER, NJ — Two wells that provide water to Manchester Township residents have been taken out of service after they were found to have elevated levels of radium, the township announced Wednesday.

The wells, located near each other between Holly Oaks and Renaissance, were taken out of service after one of the two, Well 8, had an elevated presence of radium, a naturally occurring radioactive metal that is found in trace amounts in rocks, soils and groundwater, Manchester Mayor Ken Palmer said in the announcement.

The well was tested July 10 as part of regularly scheduled testing conducted by the state, Palmer said, and the well was taken out of service as soon as the state notified the township of the results.

According to information on radium from the state of Massachusetts website, exposure to radium over a period of many years may result in an increased risk of some types of cancer, particularly lung and bone cancer. Higher doses of radium have been shown to cause effects on the blood (anemia), eyes (cataracts), teeth (broken teeth), and bones (reduced bone growth), the website says.

"The presence of radium does not mean that adverse health effects are occurring or could occur," the Massachusetts website says. "Low levels of exposure to radium are normal, and there is no evidence that exposure to low levels is harmful. The potential for health effects depends on several factors including the amount of radium present, amount of time spent near contamination, proximity to the source of radiation, and whether any shielding (e.g., concrete or lead that blocks radiation) is in place."

Palmer's announcement said if the state's quarterly testing shows the rolling average for one year exceeds 5 PCI/L — the level deemed the maximum acceptable amount — the well is deemed not compliant. The state then gives the township a year to remedy the situation and will allow the well to remain in service, he said.

Manchester chose to immediately take Well 8 out of service, and to additionally take Well 7 out of service as a precaution, Palmer said.

"Please rest assured, our drinking water is safe and has been safe," Palmer said. "Certainly, if there was an immediate concern, the state would not allow the Township to continue to use the well for one year while we fix the issue."

Palmer said scientific studies have determined that one person out of 10,000 would suffer health risks if they consumed two liters of water per day for 70 years with levels in excess of 5 PCI/L.

The two wells that were taken out of service are shallow and draw water from the Cohansey Aquifer, he said. They are used primarily during the summer when water usage peaks, to accommodate the township's irrigation needs.

"For the past decade, well 8 has produced water within state guidelines," Palmer said. "After the July testing, it was determined that during a three-week period in June our results caused us to exceed the one-year rolling average."

The township has six wells on the east side of town. Three are deep wells that draw water from the Raritan Aquifer and are located at the township's water facility on Route 571. They provide the majority of the water supply year-round. A fourth well, located along Route 70 near Leisure Knoll, is a shallow well that also accesses the Cohansey, Palmer's announcement said.

Radium is prevalent in Ocean County because of the sandy soils and the reliance on the Cohansey Aquifer. Wells that are serviced from the deeper Raritan Aquifer do not have this issue, Palmer said.

Palmer said the township has "the capacity and ability to meet all our residents’ needs for water."

"Should an emergency arise, we also have an inter-connection valve with Suez Water’s system on Northampton Boulevard in Pine Lake Park that was built before we renovated the elevated water storage tank," he said.

The township has its elevated water storage tank that holds up to 1 million gallons and a second 1 million-gallon tank at the water facility on Route 571.

Palmer said a letter to all residents in the area serviced by well 8 will go out within a week notifying them of the occurrence. The letter is required to be sent within 30 days by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

He said the township already has been making improvements to its water infrastructure. The elevated water storage tank was refurbished last fall. The inter-connection with Suez was created, and wells and pumps are being refurbished. The town will build a second elevated water storage tank and an inter-connection with Lakehurst.

"We have already begun the preliminary work to arrange for state financing for the new elevated water storage tank," Palmer said.

"Once again, please know that our water is and has been safe to drink," Palmer said, adding the announcement was made to notify all residents of the issue and that it has been immediately resolved.

More information on radium is available from the United States Geological Society by clicking here.

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Photo from Manchester Patch files