PFOA Notification Updates on the North Caldwell Water System
November 18, 2022 Update:
January 14, 2022 Update:
November 11, 2021 Update:
Please be advised that the Borough of North Caldwell continues to work in cooperation with the Borough of Essex Fells and Passaic Valley Water Commission to assure the highest quality water is provided to all our customers.
Essex Fells continues to work with their experts to finalize the design of new treatment facilities that will remove PFOA on a long-term basis. However, it will take time before those facilities are constructed and online. Thus, they have taken steps to reduce the overall level of PFOA more immediately.
In September and October, five wells with higher concentrations of PFOA were removed from service by Essex Fells. They have also adjusted the pumping schedule for the wells that remain in service, to ensure that the active water sources are blended in a way to optimally reduce the overall concentration of PFOA in the system.
Upon completion of these modifications, water samples were taken by Essex Fells on October 22nd at Pump Station #1 which is the point of entry for any water entering the North Caldwell Water System. Samples were also taken at the metering chamber where North Caldwell purchases water from Essex Fells. The test results returned PFOA readings of 8.21 parts per trillion (ppt) and 9.45 parts per trillion (ppt), respectively. Both results are well within the standard set by the NJDEP for PFOAs which is 14 parts per trillion (ppt). As a result, the Borough of North Caldwell will resume purchasing water from Essex Fells as the most recent test results demonstrate an instantaneous water quality that is appropriate.
However, NJ’s regulatory requirement is based on a running annual average (RAA), which averages regulatory test results over the preceding 4 quarters. Thus, even though the water being delivered will be within the 14 ppt standard, Essex Fells' RAA for the fourth quarter of 2021 will continue to exceed the maximum for PFOA, because that fourth quarter regulatory calculation will incorporate the higher PFOA test numbers from the earlier quarters of 2021.
Please understand that this will be an ongoing process until permanent treatment facilities are up and running. Our water utility will continue to communicate with Essex Fells during the ongoing monitoring of the system to assure PFOA levels within the 14ppt threshold until permanent treatment facilities are in place.
October 21, 2021 Update: