Identification of Perfluorinated Carboxylic Acids (PFCAs) in the Metedeconk River Watershed: Research Project Summary
Date
2016-02
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Publisher
Trenton, N.J. : New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health
Abstract
In a 2009 statewide study of perfluoroalkyl compound (PFC) occurrence in public water supplies conducted by NJDEP, the concentration of the PFC compound perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was higher in a drinking water intake along the South Branch Metedeconk River in Ocean County than in the other raw surface water sources tested. The Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority (BTMUA), which relies on the Metedeconk River as its primary source of water supply, subsequently initiated a PFC source track down study in collaboration with the NJDEP Division of Science, Research, and Environmental Health. The data collected from a series of sampling events show that low levels of various PFCs are present in the study area and likely originate from a number of sources. However, BTMUA documented a localized area of high-level PFC contamination along the South Branch Metedeconk River in Lakewood Township. A groundwater contamination plume emanating from an industrial park on the south side of the river is suspected to be the principle source of PFCs observed in the Metedeconk River and the BTMUA intake samples. Groundwater PFOA levels were found to be as high as 70,000 ng/L in this area. While various PFCs were detected in water samples throughout the study area, and particularly in groundwater samples, PFOA is the primary contaminant of concern with respect to South Branch Metedeconk River water quality and the BTMUA water supply.
Description
Keywords
New Jersey, New Jersey - Metedeconk River