DEP to install systems along Bayaire Road because of contaminated wells
MARMORA — Residents of Bayaire Road and the vicinity whose wells are contaminated with mercury got some goods news last week.
According to Bayaire Road resident Jessica Gurdgiel, the Department of Environmental Protection informed her and others in the Marmora section of Upper Township that contractors would be on site Oct. 14 to begin work to install a point-of-entry treatment system, forgoing the need for each homeowner to get three estimates and have the work done at their own expense until reimbursed.
“The state DEP really stepped up and is coming to our street Monday with a contractor to install all the systems in our home that we need at no cost to us and no need to go through three estimates and wait for the bid to be approved,” Gurdgiel wrote in an email.
According to DEP spokeswoman Caryn Shinske, representatives with New Jersey state government, including the DEP and the Department of Health, met with Cape May County and Upper Township officials Oct. 10 to discuss the status and next steps for residents whose private wells are contaminated at levels unsafe for ingestion and dermal exposure, including through bathing and washing.
“This week, DEP will take additional samples from the 11 impacted wells and confirm the results of samples already taken. In early November, DEP will sample additional residential wells to determine if any have been impacted above the 2 parts per billion standard for mercury, and continue working to identify the source of the contamination,” Shinske stated in an email. “For awareness, the Cape May County Department of Health has already sampled 10 other wells, which had no detections of mercury, in the vicinity of the wells with elevated levels of mercury.”
Shinske said after DEP determines how many wells have been impacted, it will evaluate a long-term solution by conducting a remedial alternatives analysis. The timing to complete the remedial alternatives analysis is unknown at this time.
The contamination came to light last month when the Cape May County Department of Health notified residents that it would be testing their wells after a neighbor reported a test revealed elevated levels of the heavy metal in well water.
Helen Libro, who has worked at Ready’s Coffee Shop in Ocean City for many years, said her well tested at 12,000+ micrograms per liter, far higher than the safety standard of 2 mpl.
Concerns include the effects on the health of the adults and children living in the affected homes, as well as their pets; the financial costs of testing, installing a filtration system and possibly capping their wells and hooking up to public water; the future viability of their wells, plumbing and appliances; and how the situation may affect the resale value of the homes.
It remains unclear how long it will take to have the systems installed.
“Our hope is when the contractor comes tomorrow we are able to get an estimated date of install and that it won’t be much longer,” Gurdgiel wrote Oct. 13.
She said the DEP also put the affected families up in alternative housing for weekend at no cost.
According to a letter she received, temporary housing expenses have been authorized for direct reimbursement by the Spill Compensation Fund from Oct. 10 to Nov. 1.
“If a POET system cannot be installed by Nov. 1, the Spill Fund agrees to continue the reimbursement of the temporary relocation costs beyond Nov. 1,” the letter states.
Mayor Jay Newman confirmed Gurdgiel’s comments in an email sent Oct. 14.
“The DEP has authorized and assisted in offering residential relocation for the affected and has authorized two filtration systems for each home found to contain the contamination,” he wrote.
Gurdgiel said they did not immediately take the DEP up on the offer, saying she has pets which complicate the issue.
The DEP also cleared up an issue involving use of the water.
Affected residents knew they should not drink or cook with the water but had been uncertain whether they should shower or wash their clothes and dishes with it.
“We have officially been advised by the state DEP in collaboration with the CDC to not bath, wash linens, drink or use our water in any way,” Gurdgiel wrote.
She said township officials were very helpful.
“I have to shout out to the township and, I believe, (Township Administrator) Gary DeMarzo for really advocating for us residents’ safety,” Gurdgiel wrote.
Newman stated in the letter that about a dozen wells have been found to contain elevated levels of mercury.
“The township is very grateful to the sense of urgency, cooperation and collaboration from all agencies involved in this crisis and most unnerving discovery,” he wrote. “The DEP and state Department of Health and county are in constant contact and communications with Upper Township officials. Each agency’s points of contact, project leader and other top-level decision makers are working together, so that the necessary actions can be taken without delay.”
Newman stated the state Department of Health is in contact with those having specific health concerns and agencies will continue investigating the source of the contamination.
“It is important to understand that no correlation, blame, cause or any other finger can be pointed to anyone for causing this contamination at this time,” Newman wrote. “At this time, our goal is to keep testing until the entire contamination plume area is identified and clean, safe drinking water is obtained and provided to all.”
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff