The Manchester Water and Sewer Department houses a small in-house laboratory that tests the water from the water treatment plant and town wells on a daily basis as well tests the water throughout the water service area and the wastewater both coming into and leaving the sewage treatment plant. This provides both the drinking water plant and the wastewater plant operators with the information needed for daily plant operations. Additional testing for organic contaminants and metals is sent to outside laboratories certified in those methods.
The Manchester Water Department has been actively involved in tracking lead in drinking water as well as mapping the incidence of lead pipes within our community. Corrosion control is part of our water treatment process that helps protect residents against the leaching of lead from any plumbing components that might contain lead. Running the water after it has been stagnant (such as overnight or upon returning home) is the best way to reduce any possible exposure as fresh water from the main will displace water sitting in household plumbing. As a community, we have not had system-wide lead exceedances since we implement the current corrosion control protocols over 30 years ago. We will be expanding our lead testing program over the next few years to test a greater number of households representing more of our community. This will increase our understanding of lead impacts to our community. By mapping the lead service lines, we can better plan for service line replacements and ultimately eliminate lead contribution at the source.
More on Lead: Lead in Drinking Water - Manchester Water Department Service Line Inventory: Information, Map, and Survey
PFAS is a class of more than 5,000 man-made chemicals (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) that have been in use across many industries since the 1940s, and were widely used to manufacture water-proofing, stain-proofing, and non-stick coatings as well as fire fighting foam. Since PFAS compounds do not readily biodegrade, often referred to as "forever chemicals" they can migrate through the soil impacting drinking water. Exposure to PFAS can be due to a combination of sources, including consumer products, food packaging, household dust, occupational hazards, foods contaminated with PFAS, and through drinking water. As many as 97% of subjects in some studies have been found to have PFAS in their blood.
The Manchester Water Department has been proactively testing the levels of PFAS since 2019, when State and federal health advisory levels were under development. These health advisory levels and regulations have continued to evolve. More compounds were tested in 2023 and 2024, through the unregulated contaminant monitoring program (UCMR), bringing the total dataset to encompass baseline data for 29 compounds. This program is used to study the prevalence of various compounds that are being considered for regulation. In 2024, the EPA elected to regulate 6 compounds, of these 6, there are 2 that are regularly detected in our water system. This regulation calls for compliance by 2029, although it is currently facing judicial challenges. The Town has been evaluating mitigation opportunities as these regulations unfold.
Two compounds, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) have been detected above the maximum contaminant level of 4 parts per trillion. This level was established by the EPA in 2024 and utilities have until 2029 to develop treatment or source water that complies with the regulation. The regulation is currently While this impacts the entire service area, the area of critical concern is that served by the New State Road Wells, where PFOS has been consistently been detected (click for map(PDF, 149KB)) above the State Action Level of 10 parts per trillion and PFOA has been consistently detected above 4 parts per trillion, but below the State action level of 16 parts per trillion. While concerning, it is important to note that population blood levels of these PFAS have declined dramatically in the last 25 years, as the chemicals have been phased out. This points to lower levels of direct exposure, particularly occupational exposure.
In addition to the 6 compounds targeted by the EPA, the State has set action levels for an additional 4 compounds, none of which have been found above or approaching the respective action levels. The State Department of Public Health Action Levels have been developed by considering the health impacts to the most sensitive populations based on varied health effects seen in laboratory animals likely to translate to human health impacts, particularly immunological response effects, but also can contribute to elevated cholesterol, and potentially changes in liver and thyroid function. Sensitive populations, including pregnant or nursing mothers, can consider using an alternate source of water or using formula that does not require water. PFAS are not readily absorbed through the skin, so water with PFAS can be used for showering, bathing, and laundering clothing.
The Manchester Water Department is continuing to study the best option to remove PFAS from all groundwater sources that serve the Town through available water treatment technologies. We are also evaluating other mitigation alternatives and are continuing to monitor the water for any changes. The State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is also working toward remediation solutions. CT DPH and the EPA are continuing to evaluate additional PFAS compounds for toxicity and health standards. While both the State of CT and the EPA have passed bans in the production and usage of certain PFAS compounds, these compounds are persistent in the environment, so without remediation, they will remain for many years to come.
PFAS Results 2023(PDF, 186KB)
Previous results can be found in our Water Quality Reports dating to 2020. A basic description of PFAS and the levels found can first be found in 2019 Water Quality Report along with a statement that the baseline testing performed found all analytes tested to be significantly under the levels of concern at that time. However, the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) issued new Action Levels for nine compounds between June 2022 - May 2023.
While the concentration of PFAS has not changed substantially in the time we have been monitoring it, the levels to which to we are comparing them has changed considerably. When reviewing older water quality reports, note that there may be some early results that were considered non-detections due to less sensitive detection methods or reporting thresholds.
Water Quality Reports - last five annual comprehensive reports of Laboratory Results
Have a laboratory question?
Call: 860-647-6050
Email: bwilliams@manchesterct.gov
Lab Director: Brenda Williams