Letter: Milford Drinking Water Dangers
To the editor:
Following is a powerpoint article that I presented concerning health concerns about the proposed construction of a warehouse atop the Milford Aquifer.
It expresses health concerns about the placement of a warehouse atop the Aquifer and several horror stories from New Winsor, New York; Newburgh, New York and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where Aquifers were contaminated with toxic chemicals. These are real and sad events. During the course of my lectures to the Milford township supervisors and the Pike County Meeting with Commissioners, I expressed my fear and health concerns, and I also asked how we would replace our Milford Borough water supply if the Milford Aquifer became contaminated with toxic chemicals. I also said that once an Aquifer is contaminated, it cannot be returned to the original pristine state. I also mentioned the risk of cancer related illness, neurological illness and a host of other illnesses. We do know that toxic chemicals have been related to these diseases. I stated in my powerpoint that both residential and commericial consumers need clean pristine water.
Robert Ollar, Ph.D.
Milford, PA
It Can Happen Here, Dangers of Possible Chemical Contamination of Milford Drinking Water
Why a warehouse must never be
located atop the Milford Aquifer
By Dr Robert-A. Ollar, Ph.d
Contamination By Chemical Pollutants from a Warehouse located atop the Aquifer
1. Leakage, spillage, or runoff of Auto and Truck Fluids:
a) Gasoline fuel
b) diesel fuel
c) oil
d) transmission fluid
e) radiator coolant fluid
f) brake fluid
Organic Chemical Pollutants
Contaminant
Volatile Organic Compounds ie gasoline,solvents, etc
Plasticizers, chlorinated solvents, bezo [a] pyrene dioxin
Health hazard
Cancer, liver damage
Anemia,damage to respiratory system etc
Cancer, damage to nervous system, reproductive system, kidney, liver etc
Additional Chemical Pollutants
Aluminum, Antimony, Arsenic, Barium,
Beryllium, Cadmium Chloride, Chromium, Fluoride, Iron, Lead, Manganese, Mercury, Nickel, Nitrate, Nitrite, Selenium, Silver, sodium, sulfate, Thallium, Zinc,
Chemical Contamination of Aquifers are Real Events
1. New Windsor sues to recoup millions spent to clean and supplement contaminated water
a)” The town of New Windsor filed a federal lawsuit this week to try to recover millions of dollars it spent after a chemical used in firefighting foam at nearby Stewart International Airport and Stewart Air National Guard Base contaminated the town’s drinking water”.
Chemical Contamination of Aquifers are Real Events
Overview of Camp Lejeune Water Contamination
Two of the camps water treatment plants were contaminated with volatile organic compounds. People who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune from 1953 to 1987 for at least 30 days are at greatest risk.
According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) research studies, people who lived or worked on the base during the aforementioned period of time are at greatest risk for developing cancer, congenital disorder (ie birth defects) and other serious health conditions.
Chemical Pollution of the Newburgh New York Water Supply
The contamination started back in 1990 when the nearby Stewart Air National Guard Base, home to the 105th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard, spilled 4,000 gallons of fire-fighting foam into a stream that flows directly into Lake Washington.
That foam contained perfluorooctane sulfonate, or PFOS, an invisible, flavorless industrial chemical that clings to water molecules. PFOS has been linked to cancer, thyroid problems and chronic kidney disease, and can accelerate puberty, delay mammary gland development, lower sperm count and raise cholesterol.
The Pentagon has continued to use the foam, discharging it into pools near the airbase. Even now, the Department of Defense has only put some restrictions on its use as it researches an alternative. Even if they had stopped, the Environmental Protection Agency classifies the chemical as “extremely persistent,” meaning it takes many years to naturally degrade.
Chemical Contamination of the Water at Camp Lejeune
What Happened to Cause Water Contamination ?
1. The toxic chemicals seeped into the ground water from the following sources
a) Burn dump, b) Drum dump, c) The former fire training, d) Fuel Tank Sludge area, e) industrial area, f) Industrial Fly-Ash dump, g) Liquid disposal area, f) Off Base Dry Cleaner
Reasons Based Upon Health Related Issues why a warehouse should not be located atop of the Milford Aquifer
1. The Aquifer is the sole and irreplaceable source of pristine water for the Milford Borough
2. It provides water for domestic, commercial (restaurants, hotels, beauty salons and barbershops, and laundries) and healthcare facilities (medical/dental/veterinary offices).
3. Chemical Pollution of an Aquifer can never be fully reversed in order to bring the Aquifer back to its original pristine state. The tragic stories of chemical pollution of water supplies in New Windsor New York, Camp Lejeune North Carolina and Newburgh New York are real events !
4. If cancer producing, or other health damaging chemicals enter the aquifer, they can cause health damaging effects to both human and veterinary consumers of this liquid.
5. Thus the Aquifer must be protected from all potential sources of pollution. Milford, PA does not need to be the next horror story associated with Chemical Pollution of its Aquifer !!