Plumstead, Pennsylvania Residents complained their drinking water tasted funny ever since an industrial fire nearby in late June. Subsequent environmental testing showed that the residential water contained both E. coli and total coliform.
The Bucks County Health Department had water from four private wells tested following complaints by residents who believed their drinking water had been contaminated by pollutants that traveled in runoff water from a neighboring industrial building that was destroyed by fire on June 29. Tests showed that unsafe levels of benzene and antimony were in residential well water.
Authorities are waiting for test results on other area wells, although it has been confirmed that E. coli and total coliform are in four wells. There is some concern about benzene having leaked into the local residential water supply.
Dennis Rice, owner of the industrial building at 5189 Stump Road that was destroyed in the blaze, has agreed to provide bottled water to the residents with contaminated water. Rice has also agreed to have water from two ponds on site at the industrial complex tested for contamination.
A preliminary investigation suggests the antimony might have come from fire-retardant foam that was used to battle the fire.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says exposure to harmful levels of benzene can cause cancer, anemia, excessive bleeding and deleterious effects on the immune system. Drinking a high level of benzene can cause dizziness, vomiting, convulsions and, if consumed at very high levels, death, the center says.
In the aftermath of the June 29 fire, health officials claimed that no wells or waterways were contaminated by runoff water from the fire site, despite the death of an undetermined number of fish in two ponds at the industrial facility. However, immediately after the fire, residents complained that their home water became discolored, foaming and foul smelling.