Protecting Haddam's Drinking Water (Part 2 in an on-going series)
Tylerville TCE Contamination By Diane Stock

As we reported in last month’s issue of the Haddam Bulletin, groundwater along three streets in Tylerville is contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE), an industrial solvent that was widely used from the 1940s to the mid- 80s. The levels of contamination in some of the wells have been found to be 50 to 100 times the allowable EPA safe drinking water limits.
Immediate Action
Residents should be aware that standard water tests done when a home is sold do not test for TCE, which requires a special test for “VOC”s (volatile organic compounds).
What action should be taken when contamination on this level is detected? A first logical step would be to test water of residences and businesses located near the affected area, because within local areas all wells draw from the same underground water source. Second, wells that are contaminated should be monitored on a regular basis to determine if the contamination is clearing. If it is not, this may indicate that a source of pollution is still present in the area. Third, in the case of TCE contamination, affected wells should be fitted with carbon filters, or residents should be supplied with water.
Carbon filters need to be monitored closely. Filters only work as long as they are properly maintained, and there are regulations that require the Department of Environmental Protection to monitor well water where they have installed filters. However, filters and bottled water should only be temporary solutions while working towards a more permanent solution.
Inaction
In Tylerville the process has been far from ideal. The contamination has been known for 25 years, and while Tylerville has been categorized as a “Superfund” site there has been no serious attempt to address the problem. The site was recently transferred from the Superfund to RCRA program—the latter being more appropriate when the source of the pollution is known. (You can find records by googling “EPA ctd001442417”).
(for the rest of the story)

Protecting Drinking Water Starts at Home
Public Health Director Thad King remembers the day when his office got a phone call from an irate new resident in one of the rural towns served by his district. The resident, who had lived in a city prior to moving in the district, had some issues with bathroom plumbing and wanted to know when the town would come over and fix the sewer lines. Gently, Thad introduced the resident to the concept of a septic system and who was ultimately responsible for it. Welcome to the rural neighborhood.
While many Haddam residents may know that their house comes with a well and a septic system, some of us may not be aware of the delicate balance between the two to guarantee good drinking water back at the faucet.
When a new house is built, the septic system is set as far as possible from wells both on and off property, and with the proper soil condition surrounding it to allow wastewater to be naturally filtered and recycled to the water table.
But the success of this natural purification cycle is based on a properly functioning septic system, and on what you and your neighbors decide to pour, or not to pour, down the drain.
All you wanted to know about septic systems, but were afraid to ask
A septic system consists of two main parts—a septic tank and a leach field. The septic tank is a watertight box, usually made of concrete, with an inlet and outlet pipe. Wastewater flows from your home to the septic tank through the sewer pipe.
The septic tank treats the wastewater naturally by holding it in the tank long enough for solids and liquids to separate. The wastewater forms three layers inside the tank. Solids lighter than water (such as greases and oils) float to the top, forming a layer of scum. Solids heavier than water settle at the bottom of the tank, forming a layer of sludge.

Chatham Health District
Serving the Towns of East Haddam, East Hampton, Haddam, Hebron, Marlborough & Portland
Wastewater Pumping and Permit to Discharge Regulation
The linked PDF document contains the updated (as of September 25, 2008) regulations for septic and related wastewater treatment systems for our town. The reasons for these rules and regulations are:
  • To protect the public health and welfare within the District, through the prevention of public health nuisances, hazards and environmental degradation that may have a detrimental impact upon the quality of the ground water and surface water within its boundaries.
  • To help local Waster Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) Commissions implement and comply with sewer avoidance policies to all areas within the towns of the Chatham Health District where onsite treatment and disposal of wastewater is deemed feasible.
  • To define wastewater management practices and generate data on existing subsurface sewage disposal systems including septage pumped out within the District.