Last week, a letter was sent out to Livingston residents, explaining that at least one township well is above the limit of a recently-regulated contaminant. While that letter provided useful information, it also encouraged residents to do their own research on whether or not to drink the water.This contaminant, PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), falls under a broader category of PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances) and is a synthetic chemical found in everyday household products, as well as in things like firefighting foam.PFAS is used to make products stain, grease, heat and water resistant, and its sturdy structure means it takes much longer to break down in comparison to organic chemicals. More specifically, PFOA are used for its emulsifier and surfactant properties, or as fluoropolymers (such as Teflon), firefighting foams, cleaners, cosmetics, greases and lubricants, paints, polishes, adhesives and photographic films.According to information on the Livingston Township website, those who are immunocompromised, elderly, pregnant, or have an infant, may be at increased risk and should consult with a doctor about drinking water that exceeds the recommended PFOA threshold. It should be noted that boiling the water will not remove PFOA.The well in violation here in Livingston has been shut off at the moment, so there is no active township well in excess of the limit. However, there appears to be additional wells that will be above the threshold, once fourth quarter measurements are accounted for in the rolling annual average.According to township officials, remedial measures are already underway to treat and remove the contaminants, and have been prior to this announcement. They will likely take a year or two to complete.The township releases a water report each year, which the Tribune publishes and which is also available on the town’s website. The fact is that there are many unwanted things in the water we drink, including PFAS. This is not new or unique to Livingston; it is not new or unique to New Jersey; it is not new or unique to the United States. But, no matter how common it may be, it is still scary to think that the water we drink could be harming us.There are a number of contaminants in our water, which seep through the ground and into our wells. This is why there are thresholds in place to protect us. When levels of certain contaminants exceed these thresholds, the situation must be remediated.In Livingston’s 2021 drinking water quality report,
