State Assessment Rates Jamestown’s Water Quality In New Report

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JAMESTOWN – An annual water source assessment has found that Jamestown’s water supply may be susceptible to contamination.

Conducted by the New York State Department of Health, the assessment estimates the potential for source water contamination.

It found that there is a high density of sanitary wastewater discharges in the watershed, which results in elevated susceptibility for nearly all contaminant categories.





Specifically, the amount of pastures in the assessment area results in a high potential for “protozoa” contamination.

However, the report found the total amount of wastewater discharged to surface water is not high enough to considerably raise the potential for contamination making the water safe to drink.

BPU water is derived from 12 drilled wells, eight in the Cassadaga well field and four in the Poland Center field. The source water assessment has rated the wells in both well fields as having a medium-high susceptibility to microbials, viruses, and nitrates, and a medium susceptibility to industrial solvents, and other industrial contaminants.





















The ratings for the Cassadaga well field are due primarily to the close proximity of permitted septic systems or other wastewater treatment systems to the wells, a facility listed on the State’s Toxic Release Inventory, and oil and gas well drilling in the area, the report stated.

The reports says the Poland Center Well field ratings are primarily due to the close proximity of permitted septic systems and other wastewater treatment systems to the wells, and oil and gas well drilling in the area.

The full study can be found online at the Board of Public Utilities website.

 









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