Litchfield, NH – This morning, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) brought together representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NH DES), and officials from the town of Litchfield to discuss the water contamination issues affecting the area. Earlier this spring, levels of a perfluorochemical known as perperfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA, were detected in water samples in Litchfield and surrounding towns.

“The safety and wellbeing of my constituents is always my top priority, and I am very concerned by the elevated PFOA levels present in well waters of Litchfield and surrounding towns,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “No one should ever have to worry about the safety of the water that they and their families rely on. I appreciate the immediate and coordinated effort on the part of the EPA, Saint-Gobain, and local officials to ensure that Granite Staters’ health and wellbeing are not put in jeopardy while the water contamination issue is resolved. As we await the EPA’s announcement of suggested limits to PFOA levels in drinking water, I will continue to work with officials to monitor the situation and ensure that residents are adequately protected from these man-made chemicals.”

During the briefing, Congresswoman Kuster questioned officials about the environmental and health impacts of PFOA in water supplies, as well as the next steps to ensure that Granite Staters are adequately protected from the possible health issues that can result from exposure to PFOA. Kuster was joined by Bryan Olson, Director of the EPA’s Office of Site Remediation and Restoration; Clark Freise, Assistant Commissioner of NH DES; State Senator Donna Soucy; State Representative Frank Byron; and Litchfield Town Administrator Troy Brown, among others.

In March, water samples in Merrimack revealed elevated levels of PFOA, a possible carcinogen, in the area around the Saint-Gobain Performance Plastic plant in Merrimack. Further results revealed levels of PFOA ranging from 0 to 1600 parts per trillion (ppt) in private wells from the surrounding area. Chronic exposure to PFOA has been linked to a myriad of health issues, including a number of cancers. The EPA currently does not have an enforceable drinking water standard for PFOA, though a recommended limit is expected to be released soon.

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