Farmington River Windsor Town Hall July 2, 2019 Connecticut - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Farmington River Windsor Town Hall July 2, 2019 Connecticut - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Jun 24, 2023 169 likes •376 views

Public Information Session Firefighting Foam Release to the Farmington River Windsor Town Hall July 2, 2019 Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Remediation Division Overview Overview of PFAS chemicals

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Public Information Session Firefighting Foam Release to the Farmington River

Windsor Town Hall July 2, 2019

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Remediation Division

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Overview

Overview of PFAS chemicals Timeline of events DEEP and DPH response DEEP – Transition from Emergency Response Division to Remediation Division Health advisories Next steps

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Remediation Division

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Over 4,700 “forever chemicals” Developed in the 1940s Ubiquitous in consumer products and industry PFOA and PFOS most well-known

What Are PFAS?

PFAS = Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Remediation Division

Image Sources: Bing Creative Commons

Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid Perfluorooctanoic acid PFOA PFOS

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Resist oil, grease, water, heat Stable

PFAS Characteristics

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Remediation Division

GOOD BUT…. Extremely persistent – resist degradation Bioaccumulative Linked to health risks Migrate easily

  • High solubility, low volatility, mobile in soil, leach to

groundwater

  • Air emissions a source of soil & groundwater pollution

BAD

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Some PFAS Uses

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Remediation Division

Image sources: Bing Creative Commons

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Places Where We Might Find PFAS

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Remediation Division

Image sources: Bing Creative Commons

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Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF)

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Remediation Division

Image sources: Bing Creative Commons

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The Problems with PFAS

Possible health effects

  • Developmental effects to fetuses and infants
  • Kidney and testicular cancer
  • Liver, thyroid, cholesterol, immune system effects

Present in human blood worldwide Have polluted drinking water supplies worldwide Discovery in wastewater treatment plants, biosolids, landfills, soil, surface water, fish tissue, animals, cow’s milk, and plants Replacement chemicals also a problem (GenX)

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Remediation Division

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Timeline of Events: June 8th

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Remediation Division

 Approx. 2 pm, malfunctioning fire suppression system at a private hangar at Bradley Airport caused discharge of AFFF for 6 minutes

  • Total foam released: ~40,000 gallons
  • Total AFFF concentrate: ~1,500 gallons

 CT DEEP onsite within 45 minutes, Signature Flight immediately took responsibility  Emergency Contractor onsite 40 minutes later  ~15,000 gallons foam captured onsite

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Timeline of Events: June 8th

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Remediation Division

Path of remaining foam solution:

  • Floor Drain  Oil-Water Separator 

Sewer System  MDC Wastewater Treatment Plant  Farmington River

MDC notified of release Approx. 7:30 pm, foam observed exiting sewer manholes on Rainbow Road Emergency Contractor called to remove foam from 2 manholes

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Timeline of Events: June 9th

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Remediation Division

Foam entered MDC Plant and the Farmington River in the early morning (5:30-7:30 am) Booms deployed to contain as much foam as possible ~5,000 gallons of contained foam vacuum-pumped out of the river Surface water samples collected DPH advises no contact with foam/do not eat fish

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Plant outfall Upstream Downstream-1 Downstream-2

Surface Water Sampling

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Remediation Division

3 sampling events

  • June 9
  • June 11 (outfall only)
  • June 21

4 locations

  • Upstream
  • Treatment plant outfall
  • Downstream-1 at I-91(0.6 mi.)
  • Downstream-2 at boat

launch/Palisado Ave. (3 mi.)

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Surface Water Sampling Results

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Remediation Division

Location June 9 June 11 June 21 Upstream 38 ppt

  • 18 ppt

Outfall 1,515,700 ppt 90,899 ppt 331 ppt Downstream-1 13,300 ppt

  • 50 ppt

Downstream-2 10,253 ppt

  • 40 ppt

Summary of Total PFAS Concentrations

 Total = sum of 18 individual PFAS  Primary chemical is PFOS (1,300,000 ppt at outfall on 6/9, 86% of total PFAS)  Total PFAS at the outfall decreased by more than 4,000 times over 12 days

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400000 800000 1200000 1600000

PFAS concentration (ppt) Date

6/11 6/9

Surface Water Sampling Results

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Remediation Division 6/21

Concentration at Plant Outfall

Plant outfall Upstream Downstream-1 Downstream-2

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Surface Water Sampling

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Remediation Division

Latest Concentrations (6/21)

Plant outfall Upstream Downstream-1 Downstream-2

100 200 300 400

PFAS Concentration (ppt)

Drinking Water Action Level (70 ppt for 5 PFAS)

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Farmington River Health Advisories

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Remediation Division

Initially – no contact with foam, no fishing The Farmington River is safe for recreational uses (swimming/boating). DO NOT EAT FISH caught between MDC wastewater treatment plant outfall near Phelps Brook, downstream to the Connecticut River. Catch & release fishing is allowed. Note: there is an existing fish consumption advisory statewide based on mercury.

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Next Steps for DEEP Response

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Remediation Division

 Testing at MDC – this week  Fish testing planned for week of July 8

  • Downstream and upstream locations, 2 fish species
  • Additional sampling in September

Additional ecological assessment of Farmington River – sediment Remediation at Signature Flight hangar and grounds Assessment of impact to sewer system and surrounding areas

Next 2 Weeks Summer

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PFAS Resources on the Web

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Remediation Division

DPH Drinking Water Section PFAS webpage DEEP Emerging Contaminants webpage EPA PFAS webpage EPA PFAS Action Plan Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC) PFAS Fact Sheets

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Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection: Remediation Division

Thanks for your attention! For remediation questions: Shannon.Pociu@ct.gov 860-424-3546 For health questions: Brian.Toal@ct.gov 860-509-7740

Questions or Comments?