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Water Health Assessment
(Dover Township) Toms River, New Jersey
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Summary
Draft for Public Comment -- November 16, 1999
Summary
This Public Health Consultation presents the results of extensive sampling and testing of the United Water Toms River (UWTR) community water supply serving most of Dover Township (Ocean County), New Jersey, for the period March 1996 through June 1999. The testing was conducted as part of a Public Health Response Plan developed by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) and the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to address concerns about elevated childhood
cancer incidence in the community. The purpose of the testing was to evaluate the current quality of the drinking water supply in response to concerns expressed by the community. In addition, the testing was conducted to determine if there are any characteristics of the community drinking water system that were unique to the Dover Township area, and that would warrant examination in epidemiologic studies of childhood cancer in the area.
The NJDHSS and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) took samples from 23 wells, eight points of entry to the distribution system, and over 20 locations in the distribution system of UWTR. Samples were tested for a much broader range of chemical and radiological contaminants than is required under State and federal regulations, including: volatile organic chemicals, semi-volatile organic chemicals, pesticides and related chemicals, non-volatile, high molecular weight organic chemicals,
metals, asbestos, nitrate and nitrite, gross alpha and gross beta radiological activity, and radium. The NJDHSS Division of Public Health and Environmental Loratories conducted most of the analyses hut other governmental, academic and private laboratories were also utilized.
In most respects, the LTWTR appears typical of groundwater-based community water supplies in southern New Jersey. However, samples of certain wells at the Parkway well field and parts of the LTWTR distribution system, taken in March and April 1996, were found to contain low levels of trichloroethylene (TCE) and a previously unidentified substance later determined to be styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) trimer. These contaminants are attributable to the Reich Farm hazardous waste site (CERCLIS #NJD980529713).
Two of the Parkway wells (#26 and #28) had been treated by packed tower aeration since 1988 to remove TCE, but a third well (#29) showed sporadic contamination with TCE during this testing period. In response to the discovery of SAN trimer in November 1996, the Parkway well field was voluntarily shut down by UWTR. By May 1997, activated carbon treatment to remove SAN trimer had been installed on wells #26 and #28, and the treated water was discharged to the ground (although this treated water could be pumped into
the distribution system at times of high water demand). In June 1999, activated carbon treatment was installed for wells #29 and #22 at the Parkway well field, to protect against sporadic or potential contamination. At present, the public health implications of past SAN tritner contamination cannot be determined since very little is known about its toxicological properties. The NJDHSS, NJDEP and ATSDR support a program of toxicological testing, including the potential for carcinogenicity, currently being developed
and coordinated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
In addition to the identification of SAN trimer, the presence of other non-target chemicals in the Reich Farm groundwater plume, and possibly in past samples of the community water supply, is under investigation by a committee coordinated by NJDEP.
TCE has been a common drinking water contaminant in New Jersey and the IJ. S., frequently at levels higher than what was found in the UWTR system. TCE is classified as a probable human carcinogen based on studies of workers and experimental animals exposed to high levels. While some epidemiologic studies suggest that exposure to TCE in drinking water is possibly related to increased risk of childhood leukemia's, these studies are not conclusive.
NJDHSS, NJDEP and ATSDR recommend continued treatment of the Parkway wells affected by the Reich Farm groundwater contamination plume. At this time, because of the efforts described above, exposure to Reich Farm-related contaminants through the Parkway well field has been interrupted. This interruption of exposure is contingent on control of the Reich Farm groundwater contamination plume and the effectiveness of treatment systems should contaminants enter operating wells. On-going water monitoring is necessary to document
the effectiveness of plume management and water treatment.
Gross alpha radiological activity in some points of entry is elevated, particularly those in which a large proportion of water comes from the shallow Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer. According to the NJDEP and the U.S. Geological Survey, relatively high gross alpha activity, attributable to naturally occurring radium species, is a problem that is not confined to the Dover Township area. Rather, there appears to be a general elevation in radium-related activity throughout the shallower aquifer systems of southern New Jersey and
in parts of northern New Jersey. To better understand the phenomenon, the NJDEP and the U.S. Geological Survey should continue to conduct research into the occurrence of radiological contaminants in the groundwaters of New Jersey. NJDHSS, NJDEP and ATSDR also recommend well field management that minimizes the use of wells with the higher levels of gross alpha activity.
Lead and copper were found in first-draw samples of several of the distribution system (schools) samples, indicating corrosion of metals from building plumbing. Corrosion is a problem common to many water systems and private wells. NJDEP, NJDHSS, and ATSDR recommend routine flushing of taps and water fountains before use to minimize exposure.
The occurrence of SAN trimer, a current indicator of the Reich Farm groundwater contamination plume, appears to be a characteristic unique to Dover Township. Although little is presently known of the SAN trimer's toxicological characteristics, past exposure to Parkway well field water should be considered in epidemiologic investigations of childhood cancer in the area.
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