Last year, we told you about wells in Wake Forest, NC, that were contaminated with a carcinogenic chemical called trichloroethylene (TCE). Now, a new neighborhood faces a different threat to their drinking water.
According to an article in the News & Observer, half of the wells in an East Raleigh neighborhood contain excessive levels of pesticides.
Federal, state and local agencies tested water from 30 homes near Bond Street and Trawick Road after a homeowner voiced concerns to Wake County Environmental Services in December that the water was contaminated. Sixteen wells shows high levels of dieldrin and chlordane – two types of pesticides commonly used until the 1980s to control termites around building foundations and to keep insects away from farms and gardens.
An investigation has begun to determine the source of the contamination. While officials believe that residents shouldn’t suffer severe symptoms from the toxic water, affected families are being told to stop drinking the water.
The lesson of all these contaminations is that while many people believe that well water is generally more pure than city water, that’s not always the case. People who rely on well water should have their water tested periodically to make sure that the water that comes out of your tap is crystal clear, clean, and contaminant-free.
