Latest news with #DepartmentOfEnvironmentalProtection
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Millionaires' island is plagued with 'toxic' drinking water that's slowing infecting its inhabitants
Water supplies across a wealthy Massachusetts island have been plagued with toxic 'forever chemicals' that cause a slew of health complications. Nantucket environmental officials have been discovering alarming levels of PFAS in the ritzy enclave's drinking water. PFAS, known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are long-lasting chemicals that linger in the air, soil and water. They also build up in the human body - causing cancer, high cholesterol, liver damage and pregnancy complications, according to the CDC. Before experts realized their detrimental health and environmental impact, PFAS were used in various everyday products. Starting around the 1940s, they were commonly present in non-stick cookware, cleaning supplies, dental floss, candy wrappers and firefighting foam - which easily makes its way into groundwater. While certain types of PFAS are no longer used in the US, other variations of the potentially poisoning man-made chemicals are actually FDA approved for limited use, according to the agency. Nantucket has been grappling with concerning levels of PFAS contamination for years, but experts have noticed the problem is more widespread than they thought. 'The more we test, the more we're going to detect,' Andrew Shapero, Nantucket's new environmental contamination administrator, told the Boston Globe. It was previously understood that tainted areas included Nantucket Memorial Airport and Toms Way, located mid-island. But a recent Department of Environmental Protection investigation revealed private wells are also contaminated. Last month, Shaper warned the Board of Health one particular location - the intersection Hummock Pond Road and Burnt Swamp Lane - had PFAS levels 'above the imminent hazard threshold,' the Nantucket Current reported. The state standard for the maximum amount of the substances found in drinking water is 20 nanograms of per liter. At the Hummock Pond and Burnt Swamp intersection, 124 nanograms per liter were detected. 'That is an extremely concerning concentration to see in drinking water,' Shapero told the board. Shapero has been hired with the sole intent of tackling the island's PFAS problem and minimizing its harm. While addressing the water supply contamination, Shapero contextualized the issue, explaining places across the country are in the same worrying situation. 'PFAS have been detected in many wells on the island,' he told the outlet. 'PFAS have also been detected in many water sources throughout the country. 'And so from that perspective, Nantucket has a PFAS problem that is similar to the rest of the country.' Anywhere from 71 million to 95 million Americans rely on groundwater riddled with detectable levels of the substances, according to the US Geological Survey. But what makes Nantucket's dilemma unique is the island's dependency on groundwater. 'One is that Nantucket is a sole source aquifer, so all of the water on Nantucket comes from the ground that residents live on top of, whether that's private wells or the public water supply,' Shapero told the Boston Globe. 'So Nantucket really has no alternative options.' In 1984, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decided the Nantucket Island Aquifer would be the area's sole source of drinking water, according to the agency. 'Certainly, to some extent, there is PFAS in the aquifer,' Shapero admitted, adding it is no easy feat trying to remove some of those compounds. 'Getting it out of the aquifer is challenging. Out of people's water is a little bit easier. These are forever chemicals, as you know, but filtration is an option.' The environmental official urged residents to get their blood tested to gauge if they have consumed dangerous amounts. Two nanograms per milliliter or less of PFAS in one's blood is considerably safe, he explained. But if someone has two to 20 nanograms detected - like 91 percent of Americans do - they 'might have some effects from PFAS,' Shapero said. 'On top of that, they have a threshold of 20, where you are in kind of the elevated area,' he told the outlet. 'And so that's about 9 percent of Americans who really should be keeping an eye on potential health effects from PFAS.' Ultimately, he encouraged people to test their privately owned wells, as he believes a 'substantial portion' of them have contaminated water. 'It's not just a Nantucket problem; it is a statewide and a countrywide problem,' he asserted.
CBS News
5 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Drought conditions show slow improvement in central Maryland despite heavy rainfall
Drought conditions have been present in portions of central Maryland for nearly 300 days heading into the summer. The extended period of dry weather comes with a steep cost: Water. Monitoring water levels in Maryland Liberty Reservoir reached a 20-year low in late spring, prompting voluntary water restrictions. State and local officials are closely monitoring the drought's impact on both surface and underground water levels. "There is a cause for concern anytime there is a drought," said Evan Carrozza with Baltimore County's Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability. "We would consider it more of a concern at this point, not a crisis in any way," he added. "Just because we had a lot of precipitation in May, there is about a four- to six-month lag period for groundwater recharge." Drought conditions in Maryland as of June 19, 2025. Maryland has seen persistent drought conditions leading into the summer. U.S. Drought Monitor Rain brings some drought relief With the change of seasons, heavier rains have returned to Maryland, but this is just a drop in the bucket of drought relief. According to Carrozza, the area gets the least amount of groundwater recharge during the summer months. "That's because you lost a lot of evaporation, you have storm water runoff, and then you have vegetative uptake," Carrozza said. "So, plants and trees are taking a lot of that precipitation. You don't get as much recharge in the summer months." It takes a while for a drought to develop, and it can take even longer for conditions to improve. To declare a drought officially over and to get groundwater levels back to normal, Maryland needs to see frequent rainfall throughout the summer. People have an impact, too. Conserving water during drought conditions During a drought, residents are urged to be water savvy around their homes and in their gardens. Be conservative with the amount of water you use. Focus on deep, infrequent watering. Consider mulch to retain whatever moisture you do have in your garden's soil. You can also reduce water usage by incorporating more drought-tolerant plants in your yard. Inside your home, using a dishwasher to clean dishes can help limit water waste. It may seem small, but turning the water off while brushing your teeth can also reduce your water use over time. Small everyday changes can make a large difference over time. A small number of residents in north-central Baltimore County have reported having issues getting water from wells. The drought conditions could be contributing to these isolated issues. Collecting rainwater around your home will reduce the amount of well and reservoir water you use, while also reducing your water bill. Consider a rainwater storage system, like a rain barrel. Marylanders and Mother Nature will need to work together to improve drought conditions and bring water levels back to normal. Find more information about Baltimore County's well water HERE.
CBS News
13-06-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Wildfire burning in Wharton State Forest, New Jersey Forest Fire Service says
A wildfire has erupted in a section of Wharton State Forest in Shamong Township, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and Department of Environmental Protection say. The Burlington County wildfire is expected to grow into a major wildfire, meaning it would be more than 100 acres in size. No injuries or structural damage have been reported at this time. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
CBS News
25-05-2025
- CBS News
Worker killed in sewage boat explosion on New York City's Hudson River
An explosion Saturday morning aboard a sewage boat docked on New York City's Hudson River killed one city worker and injured two others, officials said. Three Department of Environmental Protection employees were working on the vessel docked at the North River Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility in West Harlem when the explosion occurred at about 10:30 a.m. Eastern time, New York City Fire Department Deputy Assistant Chief David Simms told reporters. Video captured heavy black smoke billowing into the air. A New York City Department of Environmental Protection worker was killed when an explosion occurred aboard a sewage boat docked on the Hudson River on May 24, 2025. Citizen app One DEP employee was pronounced dead at the scene of the explosion, Simms said, which occurred near 135th Street in Manhattan. Two others were taken to area hospitals. There conditions were not provided. "Upon arrival, units discovered a large explosion had occurred in one of the holds on the tank," Simms said. "This vessel transports raw sewage from New York City to the sewage treatment plant." The deceased victim "was blown by the force of the explosion in between the pier and the vessel itself," Simms disclosed. Simms said the cause is under investigation. The U.S. Coast Guard wrote on X that the "incident" was "reportedly linked to hot work aboard a docked boat." New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement that, "At this time, there is no suspicion of criminality and no impact on the facility." NYC worker dies in boat explosion DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala said in a statement the worker killed served the city for more than three decades. His name was not immediately released. "The entire DEP family is grieving today," Aggarwala said, adding, "He was a valued and experienced member of the Bureau of Wastewater Treatment, and his decades of service reflect his commitment to DEP's mission." In his statement, Adams said that he was "devastated to hear about the tragic death of a dedicated Department of Environmental Protection employee who lost his life today while working on a boat at one of our city's wastewater resource recovery facilities. This devoted public servant gave 33 years of service to New York City, and our hearts go out to his family, friends, and colleagues during this painful time." There does not appear to be any environmental impact from the explosion at this time, a city official told CBS News New York. The U.S. Coast Guard wrote in a social media post that no pollution had been reported in the Hudson following the explosion, describing the "situation as stable" The plant's operations were not affected, officials said.
The Sun
24-05-2025
- The Sun
One dead and two left injured after boat explodes on Hudson River during NYC Fleet Week
A WORKER was killed and two others injured when a sewage barge exploded on the Hudson River during New York City's Fleet Week. The blast erupted around 10.30am Saturday on a Department of Environmental Protection vessel docked near West 138th Street in Manhattan, officials said. 1 The barge — which was transporting raw sewage to the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant — suddenly blew up, sending a 59-year-old man flying into the river. 'Officials arrived at the scene to find a large explosion had ripped through the ship's hull,' NYPD said. The worker, who was welding the hull at the time of the explosion, became trapped between the vessel and the dock and later died of his injuries. It is not yet clear whether the fatal wounds were caused by the blast itself or the impact after he was thrown into the water. .
