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<DIV>Laurie,</DIV>
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<DIV>Thanks for passing on this interesting story! </DIV>
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<DIV>It brings to mind an off-subject tangent. As a big block of sand, Cape Code is a great place to study the migration of pollutants in groundwater as well as the infiltration of sea water. Decades ago, when I lived on the Cape, I saw a map showing a band of high concentration of phosphorus at quite some distance from the recharge basins at a wastewater plant for a large military air base on Cape Cod. High phosphate detergents were in common use for a limited number of years and the band showed how far the groundwater, carrying that detergent residual, had migrated. TCE was the more significant contaminant. It was used to de-grease airplanes on the tarmac. </DIV>
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<DIV>From: <A href="http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/pHexperiment/pHexp_details.html">http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/pHexperiment/pHexp_details.html</A> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=style3><STRONG>Cape Cod Toxic Substances Hydrology Research Site, Massachusetts</STRONG><BR>The Cape Cod research site is near a wastewater-treatment facility at the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR). A treated-sewage plume originated from the facility’s infiltration beds, which were used from about 1936 to 1995. The plume extends more than 6 kilometers from the disposal site in the sand and gravel aquifer and contains a complex mixture of phosphate, nitrate, metal ions (such as zinc), detergents, organic chemicals, and microbes. The plume and adjacent parts of the aquifer serve as an ideal field laboratory where a multidisciplinary team of scientists is investigating how contaminants are transported in groundwater.</SPAN></DIV>
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<DIV>Ed Gottlieb<BR>Chair, Coalition for Safe Medication Disposal<BR>Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator<BR>Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility<BR>525 3rd Street<BR>Ithaca, NY 14850<BR>(607) 273-8381<BR>fax: (607) 273-8433<BR></DIV></DIV>
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<DIV>>>> "Tenace, Laurie" <Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.us> 9/20/2013 9:25 AM >>><BR></DIV>
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<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">As the Cape debates wastewater treatment options, the Silent Spring Institute is offering a little more to think about regarding the Cape’s wells.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">According to a newly published study, pharmaceuticals, consumer product chemicals and other emerging contaminants can be found in public drinking water wells on Cape Cod, and septic systems may be to blame.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The study, funded by the Massachusetts Environmental Trust and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and published online in the peer-reviewed journal “Science of the Total Environment,” details an investigation conducted by Silent Spring on the Cape that looked at emerging contaminants in septic systems and the impact such systems might have on area wells.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Dr. Laurel Schaider, a research scientist at Silent Spring and lead author of the study, said that the goal of the study was to determine whether there were emerging contaminants in well water, and if so, which ones and whether septic systems properly filtered them out.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">“Caffeine and acetaminophen were very well removed,” Schaider said.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Not so well removed were an antibiotic containing sulfa, and PFOS, a chlorinated flame retardant commonly used in a number of home stain-resistant and nonstick coatings, as well as firefighting foams.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Such contaminants, particularly antibiotics, cause alarm because long-term effects on humans are unknown. Antibiotics in drinking water, even in low numbers, could cause resistance in time.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The Silent Spring study found contaminants in 15-20 public wells and two distribution systems supplying drinking water on the Cape at levels that were among the highest recorded in the US. None of the chemicals found, Schaider said, are federally regulated.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Of significant concern, Schaider said, are septic systems that aren’t working properly. According to Schaider, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 10-20 percent of all septic systems are failing, which can mean more contaminants reaching drinking water wells.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">“The action is in the leach field or filtration,” Schaider said. “If you don’t get your septic system pumped regularly, then you would not expect to see as good removal of contaminants.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">What to do to solve the problem, Schaider said, is not clear.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">“I don’t think it’s a one-size-fits-all solution on the Cape,” she said. “It’s a cycle – pulling water out of the ground, putting wastewater into the ground. How do we help separate it?”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Nitrogen is also a concern, since it is estimated that 80-85 percent of nitrogen comes from human waste not being properly processed via the Cape’s septic systems.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Having the study published in the peer-review journal is a big step toward raising awareness, Schaider said, as it spreads the information to a wider audience. In terms of addressing the issue of potentially harmful drinking water, Schaider said one of the easiest solutions is a solid carbon block water filter. Switching to environmentally safe home products, including personal hygiene, housekeeping, and laundry items, can also help.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">In Falmouth, 60 private homeowners are participating in an eco-toilet evaluation program to see whether such toilets help reduce the amount of waste, and therefore chemicals, that is processed through local septic systems.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Silent Spring will hold a public presentation of the study findings, as well as the eco-toilets project and breast cancer prevention research on Oct. 2 at town hall in Hyannis beginning at noon.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">A challenge facing Silent Spring and its efforts to continue researching clean water on the Cape is funding. Silent Spring founder Cheryl Osimo said that the difficult economy resulted in a loss of state funding, increasing the need for private donations.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">“We are so grateful to the Cape community for supporting the work of Silent Spring during the past 19 years,” Osimo said. “We hope they’ll continue to support us.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Osimo is also thankful for the support of the Mass Environmental Trust, as well as the state’s past funding of Silent Spring.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">“We appreciate the past funds,” Osimo said. “And we hope that they will continue to provide support in the future.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #333333; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">For more information on the Silent Spring Institute and its research visit silentspring.org.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Laurie Tenace<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Environmental Specialist<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Waste Reduction Section<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Florida Department of Environmental Protection<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 4555<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Tallahassee, FL 32399-2400<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>850.245.8759<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.us<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV></DIV>
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