Published: Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009 / Updated: Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009 07:32 AM
DHEC to discuss water quality of Fort Mill's Foxwood neighborhood
FORT MILL --
Residents of the Foxwood neighborhood will meet with state health officials Monday to talk about contaminants and water quality issues in the well system that serves their homes.
About 250 homes in the subdivision are served by a private well system where two contaminants have been found, said Adam Myrick, a spokesman for the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
DHEC called the 6:30 p.m. Monday meeting at Fort Mill Elementary School in response to complaints about the water, Myrick said.
Myrick said the water, long the subject of complaints from residents, has been found to contain two groundwater contaminants, trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene. However, he said the levels are not out of compliance with standards set by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
He said the contaminants have been present in the water since quarterly testing began there in 1990, but there have been some increases in those levels.
He did not have data Wednesday, but said that information will be shared during the Monday meeting.
According to the EPA, trichloroethylene and tetrachlorethelene are organic liquids. Long-term exposure can cause liver problems and an increased risk of cancer.
Trichloroethylene is used to remove grease from machinery and textiles. It also is a solvent and is used in paint removers, rug cleaners and adhesives.
Tetrachlorethelene is a discharge from factories and dry cleaners, the EPA reports.
Officials with Utility Service of South Carolina could not be reached for comment.
“We are determining the extent of the contamination,” Myrick said. “Where it is, where it has gone and what wells are affected in the area.”
The smell, texture and color of the water are not related to the contamination, Myrick said.
The only residents impacted are those in the Foxwood subdivision off Merritt Road in Fort Mill, Myrick said.
“We have no reason to believe that it has impacted the public water system,” Myrick said, referring to York County water lines.
During Monday's meeting, Myrick said DHEC officials will talk to the residents about the groundwater contamination as well as some alternatives to their current water system.
Right now, DHEC is not recommending that Foxwood residents stop drinking the water, Myrick said.
“We'll make a recommendation at that meeting,” Myrick added.
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