Truslow Resource Consulting LLC
 

Yes, it's pretty white around here now, but we are busy preparing for spring field season.  We hope you will find the spotlight on arsenic in private water supplies in New Hampshire and some project updates helpful and interesting.    

 

We look forward to working with you in the coming year.    

 

  

Sincerely,

  

Danna Truslow, Samantha Wright and Anna Boudreau

 

By the Numbers:
Arsenic in NH Drinking Water
  • Low levels of arsenic are present in
    40% of NH's groundwater.
  •  20-30% of NH domestic bedrock wells contain arsenic above drinking water standards.
  • Approximately 50,000 
    NH private wells may contain elevated arsenic levels.

Arsenic in groundwater can occur with the right combination of ingredients: a mineral source in bedrock and slow moving alkaline (basic) water. It can be naturally occurring in bedrock and remains undetectable by sight, smell or taste, causing residents to be unaware of the issue unless informed of the need for testing their well. Recent research shows that even low levels can increase the rate of disease and can be more harmful than realized (Flanagan, 2014 and USEPA, 2012).  

 

Arsenic concentrations appear to be highest in the southeastern corner of NH due to bedrock conditions, meaning residents in that region may have arsenic levels above the EPA permitted levels. Over time, these levels can leave residents at a higher risk for skin cancer, bladder cancer, lung cancer, increased susceptibility to infections, and diminished cognitive skills in children (Dartmouth, 2014).

 
WHAT CAN YOU DO? First, test your well water. 

 

The NHDES laboratory will complete a 'standard suite' of parameters that includes arsenic for less than $90. Many private laboratories also provide this service.  Check to make sure arsenic is included in the water testing suite.  A link to the NHDES lab for more information can be found here or they can be reached by phone at (603) 271-3445. You make take the water sample yourself and send it in for analyses. NHDES recommends that you test your well about every two years. 

 

Primary Sources:

Dartmouth Toxic Metals Superfund Research Program, 2014.

Flanagan, S.M., Belaval, Marcel, and Ayotte, J.D., 2014, Arsenic, iron, lead, manganese, and uranium concentrations in private bedrock wells in southeastern New Hampshire, 2012-2013: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2014-3042, 6 p., at

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/fs20143042.

 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2012, 2012 Edition of the drinking water standards and Health Advisories: Washington, D.C., Office of Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 822-S-12-001, 12 p. accessed February 13, 2014, at http://water.epa. gov/action/advisories/drinking/upload/ dwstandards2012.pdf.

Want more information? Check out these online resources.

New Hampshire Lives on Water 

NHPR (recent show devoted to this topic) 

Dartmouth - In Small Doses: Arsenic video 

USGS and EPA 

NHDES 

Great Bay Permeable Reactive Barrier 
Demonstration Project

Durham and Brentwood, NH

 

As part of Great Bay Watershed Plan Implementation, Rockingham County Conservation District and Strafford County Conservation District have collaborated to develop permeable reactive barrier (PRB) demonstration sites at two locations - Durham and Brentwood, NH.  The ultimate goal of the project is to test and implement effective nitrogen removal methods in the Great Bay Watershed to improve Bay water quality.  A portion of the work is funded through an NHDES Section 319 grant.   

Truslow RC is the project manager and environmental sampling task manager and Haley & Aldrich (HAI) is completing the engineering, design and installation of the PRBs along with Lombardo Associates.  Installation will be completed with the assistance of the Towns of Durham and Brentwood.    Absolute Resource Associates of Portsmouth is the analytical laboratory on the project. 

 

A PRB is a passive technology that can be used by private homeowners and communities to reduce inorganic nitrogen discharges from sources such as septic systems.  The PRB trench is installed downgradient from a source and is filled with wood chips, exchange media and sand/gravel to transform inorganic nitrogen to nitrogen gas.   

 

Associated with the design is a groundwater and surface water monitoring network to determine pre- and post- installation water quality and document changes after the PRB is installed.  This project will not only evaluate the feasibility of this technology for use in the Piscataqua Watershed but will also contribute a significant database on actual nitrogen loading from large and small on-site septic systems.  Danna Truslow and project engineer Mark Kelley presented a project update and conceptual PRB designs at the Lamprey River Symposium at UNH on January 9, 2015.  You can view the presentation for more background here. 

evaluating and resolving land & water resource issues
454 Court Street, Suite 304, Portsmouth, NH 03801  

p 603.766.6670   c 603.498.2916

[email protected] ­

 www.truslowRC.com

Winter 2015

 

Huppe Conservation Easement  Project 

Successfully Closes

 

 

Farmington, NH 

 

 

Truslow Resource Consulting is pleased to announce the completion of the 76-acre Berry Brook Farm Conservation Project in Farmington, NH. Strafford Rivers Conservancy (SRC) accepted the easement from landowners Maurice and Gerie Huppe on November 12, 2014, and as part of a recent merger, this easement has been transferred to Southeast Land Trust of NH. Funding for this important project was provided by the Town of Farmington, the NHDES Aquatic Resource Mitigation (ARM) Fund, Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership (PREP), the Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership, and Philip Zaeder and Sylvia Thayer, who made a generous donation in memory of Sylvia's mother, Beulah Thayer.

 

Berry Brook Farm, located within the Blue Hills Conservation Focus Area, was recognized as a protection priority by the Land Conservation Plan for the Coastal Watershed and the Isinglass River Management Plan.  In addition, a portion of the property falls within the City of Rochester Water Supply Protection Area for the Rochester Reservoir that is approximately 2,500 feet downstream from the Huppe Property. 

 

Truslow RC wrote a successful grant request for ARM Funding in 2013 for the project. After joining the firm last year, Truslow RC's Anna Boudreau, served as the Project Manager representing SRC throughout the process. Truslow RC also completed the Phase I Environmental Assessment and Baseline Documentation Report for the project and will work with the landowner to update the forest management plan and assist with restoration work around several stream crossings.

 

 WaterVision LLC Update

Long Island Sound

 

On December 31, 2014 WaterVision LLC completed our nearly two year contract with NEIWPCC to support the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) with the update of their Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP).  The WaterVision team included many players but our first line team was Danna Truslow, project manager, Drew Carey, lead facilitator, and Samantha Wright, database manager, chief social media manager and so much more. Dave Kellam from SeaPlan was also instrumental in getting us setup up with all the right tools for social media outreach.

We enjoyed working with Jim Latimer, Core Team Lead, and all the members of the LISS Core Team in helping them to shape the components of the final document.  This will further the significant progress that has been made to restore the water quality and habitat of Long Island Sound.

 

 Cape Cod 

 

Through our Clean Water Act contract with USEPA Region 1, we have embarked on a Best Management Practice project on Cape Cod in collaboration with our team member Comprehensive Environmental, Inc.  This will involve installing a gravel wetland in Barnstable and Chatham to reduce the nitrogen loading to inlets on Cape Cod.  This project features a major BMP performance monitoring component.