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May 3, 2017

Report: Some private wells in CT test high for arsenic, uranium

A report published today by the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), reveals that water from some private wells across the state has registered high levels of arsenic and uranium, according to DPH.

DPH and local health officials collected and analyzed water samples from 674 private wells in Connecticut and found 7 percent of the samples tested for arsenic or uranium at levels higher than maximum contaminant levels, which are regulated in public water supplies and newly constructed private wells under Connecticut law, DPH said.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists then compared the water sample collection sites to geologic information in those areas. While high levels of arsenic and uranium were discovered across the state, the scientists found high concentrations in wells that correlated with certain types of bedrock; however, bedrock type alone was not always predictive of higher or lower concentrations.

Study results reaffirm DPH’s previous recommendation that private well owners in Connecticut should test their wells for naturally occurring arsenic and uranium.

Arsenic exposure has been related to many adverse health outcomes and can increase the risk of certain cancers. It also may be a risk factor for a developing fetus, and can affect child intellectual function. Naturally occurring uranium can have adverse effects on the kidneys, but does not have high levels of radioactivity and is not considered a significant cancer risk.

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