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Torrington ordered to address drinking water contamination
Release Date: 1/10/2001
Contact Information:
Diane Sipe,
Release Date: 1/10/2001
Contact Information:
EPA 303/312-6391
- Denver -- Since EPA helped fund Torrington’s well-head protection study in the late 1980's, we have continued to work with the City to characterize and address the nitrate contamination in the City’s drinking water supply. The well-head study and a number of additional studies confirm that the high levels of nitrates in the City’s drinking-water source aquifer are due to local agricultural activities (fertilization of crops) and urban lawn fertilization.
Nitrates in drinking water present an acute health risk for infants. While the City’s response actions to avoid serving contaminated water to date have provided some temporary measure of safety, a long-term and reliable solution is essential. High levels of nitrate are known to cause “blue-baby syndrome” and because of this human health risk, EPA is requiring Torrington to take steps to address this well-known problem.
For over a year now, EPA negotiated with the City with hopes of reaching agreement on a plan and schedule for the City to come into compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act standards for nitrates. During this time, the City has investigated numerous alternate well fields in an unsuccessful attempt to locate a suitable new source to reliably and consistently provide drinking water in compliance with the nitrate standard. Since EPA and the City were unable to reach agreement on a plan and a time frame for action, EPA is now ordering the City to implement short-term and long-term solutions to its nitrate problems and, more recently, bacteria contamination in the drinking water supply. These activities are scheduled over the course of the next 21 months. Meeting the requirements of this Order will allow the City to provide safe drinking water consistently and reliably to the City’s residents and visitors without facing any EPA penalties.
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