November 2, 2011
by Doug Fraser
Excerpt: Silent Spring Institute researcher Laurel Schaider will present the results of tests on drinking water samples from 20 private Cape wells at 2 p.m. today at Town Hall.
The samples were tested for pharmaceuticals, hormones and consumer-product chemicals, including flame retardants and perfluorinated compounds (for example, from nonstick and stain-resistant products).
Researchers also measured several wastewater markers, such as nitrate and boron.
The goal was to understand the susceptibility of Cape Cod private wells to contamination by wastewater, primarily from septic systems, and to evaluate the influence of factors such as residential development.
This study follows Silent Spring Institute's 2010 study of 20 public wells on Cape Cod, in which three-quarters of wells tested contained low levels of consumer product chemicals and pharmaceuticals.