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SUNDAY FOCUS: WATER QUALITY Poison in the well High levels of arsenic has officials warning homeowners to test their wells By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 12, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 12, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> If you live in Jackson County and get your water from a well, there's something you should know: Testing that subterranean H2O on a regular basis could save your life. Many local wells contain arsenic, a naturally occurring, toxic element that if consumed over time, can cause a host of health problems — skin lesions, high blood pressure, cardiovascular damage, diabetes, even cancer. Arsenic is more commonly found in Jackson County than other parts of Oregon, water quality experts say. It is odorless and tasteless. And it can be detected only through testing. But the practice of testing wells in Jackson County is infrequent at best, state officials say.  "It's not uncommon to hear that someone has never tested their well," says Tara Chetock, program coordinator for the Oregon Health Authority's Domestic Well Safety Program, which aims to spread awareness about regular well testing through partnerships with local health departments and water providers.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers anything above 10 micrograms of arsenic per liter of water to be unhealthy. Nearly 8 percent of 591 wells in Jackson County tested during real estate transactions — the only time such tests are required by law — between 2001 and March 2015 contained arsenic at unhealthy levels, according to OHA data. More than 35 percent of the tests detected between 1 and 9 micrograms of arsenic per liter. Statewide, similar tests found 26 percent had 1 to 9 micrograms of arsenic. "Those higher numbers in the low range are not necessarily safe," Chetock says. "Reducing any exposure to arsenic is going to be advisable." Close to 57 percent of the Jackson County tests did not detect arsenic, compared with 63 percent statewide. The data so far Based on data collected thus far, wells in Jackson, Lane, Malheur and Harney counties have a greater chance of arsenic poisoning than the rest of Oregon. "You have more wells in Jackson County that are getting detectable levels for arsenic than the state," says Kelly Cogswell, OHA epidemiologist. According to the 15 years of real estate transaction data, well samples have exceeded the threshold of 10 micrograms of arsenic per liter (or 10 parts per billion) in Eagle Point, Central Point, Gold Hill, Trail, Talent, Medford, White City and Shady Cove.  OHA's data has some limitations. The tests are collected under the state's Domestic Well Testing Act, which requires wells to be tested during real estate transactions. OHA officials say they cannot be sure all samples were collected accurately. They also can't be sure test results they receive represent all wells in the county. "It's difficult to say what percentage of total wells is represented in Jackson County by our data," Chetock says.  Groundwater studies in Southern Oregon have been done in the past, but they are limited. In 2011, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality tested 52 wells in Jackson and Josephine counties for arsenic, nitrates and fluoride. Forty-four percent of Jackson County's tests showed positive for arsenic, though only three had concentrations above the EPA threshold.  In 1994-97, Jackson County mapped the water quality of 1,612 wells and found some had arsenic levels above 50 micrograms per liter, the standard for safe levels at the time. DEQ sampled 60 wells in Jackson County in February and March, but the results are not yet complete. Scientists plan to collect more samples in October.  On arsenic Arsenic, element number 33 on the periodic table, is frequently found in areas that have had volcanic activity. The metalloid can leach out of the soil into groundwater.  "All of the rock types in our area can have arsenic in them," says Jackson County Watermaster Travis Kelly. DEQ groundwater hydrologist Bill Mason says arsenic is found up and down the Willamette Valley and across Southern Oregon. Compared to the rest of the U.S., the Pacific Northwest as a whole has higher concentrations of arsenic in groundwater, as does New England and the southwest, according to the Institute of Water and Watersheds and Environmental Health Center.  Drought doesn't typically affect how concentrated arsenic will become in wells. "Short-term variations in the weather won't necessarily affect those levels," Mason says, though shallower wells might see higher concentrations during drought.  Advised and possibly expensive Despite the evidence that harmful levels of arsenic exist in local groundwater, state law still doesn't require well testing unless you're selling your house. "Basically, if you're a private well owner, it's up to you to test your well," Mason says. Mail-order kits can test for a broad range of chemicals. An arsenic test on its own costs about $45. Samples also can be sent to laboratories for testing. The more elements you test for, the higher the price tag. "It can run $500 to $1,000," Mason says. "Doing that every few years, that's not something everyone can afford."  Homeowners whose wells contain levels of arsenic higher than 8 ppb should test once more. If high concentrations (10 ppb or higher) continue, homeowners should install a treatment system, OHA officials say.  Boiling water won't do anything and will actually concentrate the arsenic levels even more because of evaporation, they say. Arsenic can't be filtered out except through treatment systems such as reverse osmosis or anion exchange.  "And those are expensive," Mason says. "For a home, it's $3,000 to $5,000, roughly. It's just not that easy to remove reliably." Some wells have such high levels of arsenic that homeowners have had to abandon them altogether and cart in thousands of gallons of water each month, he says. More to learn and do State agencies will continue testing groundwater in Jackson County to get a more complete picture of problem wells and increase awareness of health effects and the law, Chetock says.  She says OHA also has applied for a grant with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help streamline the reporting process and create more efficient ways to get the word out about the Domestic Well Safety Program ( http://ow.ly/Ps7q6 ). "We still have quite a bit of work to do," Chetock says. "I think there needs to be increased domestic well stewardship."  Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected]. Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil. By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 12, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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