Community
03-03-2021 IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER
The Borough of Waldwick Water System Has Levels of Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) Above Drinking Water Standards. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of manmade chemicals that repel oil and water and are resistant to heat and chemical reactions. PFAS are used in the production of some non-stick cookware, in waterproof and stain proof coatings, in “leak-proof” coatings on food package materials, in fire-fighting foams, and in other uses. PFAS can enter drinking water through industrial release to water, air, or soil; discharges from sewage treatment plants; land application of contaminated sludge; and use of fire-fighting foam.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has standards for three compounds within the PFAS class of chemicals: PFOS, PFOA, and PFNA. NJDEP first required monitoring of PFNA in Q1 of 2019, and first required monitoring of PFOA and PFOS in Q1 of 2021.
We routinely monitor our water system for the presence of drinking water contaminants. On February 9, 2021, we received notice that a water sample collected on January 18, 2021 showed that our system exceeds the standard, or maximum contaminant level (MCL), for PFOS at one of our supply wells. The New Jersey standard for PFOS is 0.013 µg/L, and PFOS at the one well was found at 0.084 µg/L. While compliance with the standard is based on a running annual average (RAA), the average of quarterly testing over the period of one year, this test result would cause the RAA to exceed the MCL regardless of the next three quarter results. Once an MCL violation is exceeded we must take corrective action within one year of the violation.
The water supply well which had the high concentration in January, 2021 was removed from operation as soon as we were notified of the test results. In 2019, prior to the proposal and adoption of MCL’s for PFOA and PFOS, the Borough also removed from operation one water supply well after a water sample result from the well would have caused a RAA to exceed a MCL recommendation by the New Jersey Drinking Water Quality Institute, regardless of the next three quarter results. Both of these water supply wells are expected to remain off until a treatment solution is in place.
The Borough will hold a virtual water quality meeting on March 10, 2021, at 7:30 pm, where our professional staff and technical experts will provide information and answer questions about what we are doing to ensure our residents are provided with quality drinking water. Instructions on how to participate in the virtual meeting will be announced on or before March 5th, including on https://www.waldwicknj.org/waterdepartment and in the Friday Community News email.
More information on PFAS, including the full public notice on the recent exceedance, water supply well test results, and resources from regulatory agencies and health organizations can be found on https://www.waldwicknj.org/waterdepartment.
03-03-2021 IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER 
Important Information About Your Drinking Water
The Borough of Waldwick Water System Has Levels of Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) Above Drinking Water Standards. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of manmade chemicals that repel oil and water and are resistant to heat and chemical reactions. PFAS are used in the production of some non-stick cookware, in waterproof and stain proof coatings, in “leak-proof” coatings on food package materials, in fire-fighting foams, and in other uses. PFAS can enter drinking water through industrial release to water, air, or soil; discharges from sewage treatment plants; land application of contaminated sludge; and use of fire-fighting foam.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has standards for three compounds within the PFAS class of chemicals: PFOS, PFOA, and PFNA. NJDEP first required monitoring of PFNA in Q1 of 2019, and first required monitoring of PFOA and PFOS in Q1 of 2021.
We routinely monitor our water system for the presence of drinking water contaminants. On February 9, 2021, we received notice that a water sample collected on January 18, 2021 showed that our system exceeds the standard, or maximum contaminant level (MCL), for PFOS at one of our supply wells. The New Jersey standard for PFOS is 0.013 µg/L, and PFOS at the one well was found at 0.084 µg/L. While compliance with the standard is based on a running annual average (RAA), the average of quarterly testing over the period of one year, this test result would cause the RAA to exceed the MCL regardless of the next three quarter results. Once an MCL violation is exceeded we must take corrective action within one year of the violation.
The water supply well which had the high concentration in January, 2021 was removed from operation as soon as we were notified of the test results. In 2019, prior to the proposal and adoption of MCL’s for PFOA and PFOS, the Borough also removed from operation one water supply well after a water sample result from the well would have caused a RAA to exceed a MCL recommendation by the New Jersey Drinking Water Quality Institute, regardless of the next three quarter results. Both of these water supply wells are expected to remain off until a treatment solution is in place.
The Borough will hold a virtual water quality meeting on March 10, 2021, at 7:30 pm, where our professional staff and technical experts will provide information and answer questions about what we are doing to ensure our residents are provided with quality drinking water. Instructions on how to participate in the virtual meeting will be announced on or before March 5th, including on https://www.waldwicknj.org/waterdepartment and in the Friday Community News email.
More information on PFAS, including the full public notice on the recent exceedance, water supply well test results, and resources from regulatory agencies and health organizations can be found on https://www.waldwicknj.org/waterdepartment.
Address/Location
The Borough of Waldwick, NJ
15 E Prospect St
Waldwick, NJ 07463
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1