'Forever chemicals' found in more Maryland drinking water systems.

[elleng]

Potentially harmful levels of “forever chemicals” contaminate some of the smallest drinking water systems in Maryland, the state’s latest round of testing shows.

The Maryland Department of the Environment reported in late April that its testing of 65 community water systems, which collectively serve about 81,000 people, detected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in a little more than half the wells sampled.>>>

https://www.bayjournal.com/news/pollution/forever-chemicals-found-in-more-maryland-drinking-water-systems/article_7b673152-e6a6-11ec-90a1-0747c8d43645.html?

[whathehell]

1. Hi elleng

It's funny, but I was just researching this very topic. My husband and have been considering a move to Maryland to be closer to my family in DC...We looked at places like Edgewater and North Beach. We were ready to start the ball rolling until our research turned reports like this one, now we're at "wait and see".

[elleng]

2. Hi, whathehell.

C'mon over! Maryland's a large state, keep looking.

Glad I haven't seen anything about near where I live, Calvert County, but will keep looking, tho I won't move from HERE for just about anything, not too far from Edgewater.

[whathehell]

3. Hey Elleng..Thanks for the invite!

. Looking at your beautiful shot of what I'd guess, is a lovely area, I can see why you'd be most reluctant to leave.
That said, I'm afraid I did see an article about PFAS in Chesapeake Beach, Calvert County, that you might want to read.

https://www.militarypoisons.org/latest-news/state-acknowledges-massive-contamination-in-chesapeake-beach-md










.

[elleng]

4. DAMN! 30 miles away, north.

Guess I won't drink the water.

May 20, 2021

acknowledged “massive contamination” caused by the military’s use of PFAS at the Naval Research Lab - Chesapeake Bay Detachment in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland

PFAS are per-and poly fluoroalkyl substances. They are used in the fire-fighting foams in routine fire-training exercises on base and have been used on the facility since 1968, longer than anywhere in the world. The chemicals have severely contaminated the soil, groundwater, and surface water in the region. PFAS in the tiniest amounts are linked to fetal abnormalities, childhood diseases, and a host of cancers.

[whathehell]

5. Yeah, it's pretty scary, isn't it?

Hence our hesitation with the move.

As you might know, these "forever" contaminents are all around, but seem to be more concentrated in certain areas. What's worse, in terms of drinking water, is that PFAS and PFOS is not screened out by most water filters and is present in many, if not most, bottled waters..That said, you can google search the filters and bottled waters that DO screen for PFAS and PFOS...My husband just installed a 3 stage filter system with granular charcoal (GAC), which does screen for them.

On a more optimistic note, the environmental PTB do seem to be getting more pro- active on the issue. I've even subscribed to a couple of Maryland news outlets (including the one linked to in your post) to keep up with new developments.

[elleng]

6. Yes, and more scary because my daughter, 2 grands (3 and 8 years old) and s i l

Last edited Wed Jun 22, 2022, 12:29 AM - Edit history (1)

live 7 miles from me, on the river, also in Calvert, across from Patuxent Naval base, which I think I read has a high contaminant #.

OMG!

They're @ Ocean City this week; hope it's better there.

[whathehell]

7. Yes, I know what you mean. I have family in Takoma, MD

and in DC itself, which I don't know to be better.

I looked up that area near the navel base where your daughter & grands live, and I found more information..

This is just one article,but if you Google the Patuxent River and " contaminents or PFAS, you'll find more.

https://www.civilianexposure.org/pfas-contamination-at-the-patuxent-river-naval-air-station-what-we-dont-know-may-hurt-us/

[elleng]

8. Thanks! And some history, in my front 'yard:'

Battle of St. Leonard Creek

“Thus, we have beat them and their rockets, which they did not spare…The moment the enemy ran off, we moved up the river, so
that thanks to hot and cold shot, the blockade is raised.” - Joshua Barney, quoted in American & Commercial Daily
Advertiser, June 29, 1814.

During the War of 1812, dramatic events took place on JPPM grounds. The
British had controlled the Chesapeake Bay since the
beginning of the war. In an attempt to open the Bay, a flamboyant
ex-privateer, Commodore Joshua Barney, assembled a rag-tag fleet of
eighteen small gun boats, barges, and sloops and headed down the Bay in
June of 1814. Barney's Chesapeake Flotilla clashed with the British on June
8 – 10 and again on June 26th in the Battle of St. Leonard Creek. The
battle, which is the largest naval engagement in the history of Maryland,
took place where the Patuxent River meets the mouth of St. Leonard
Creek, right off the shore of JPPM.

https://jefpat.maryland.gov/Documents/education/war-of-1812/1812-war.pdf

[whathehell]

9. You're welcome, ellen

and thanks for the interesting history!...I love history.