Jefferson County Foundation has designed and is administering the well testing program as part of a larger program to screen for pollution of water resources from Rockwool. The Foundation has worked hard to design a robust program that will detect early signs of pollution and stand up to legal scrutiny if needed. The Foundation has done all the leg work and is looking for participants who may be affected.
About the Program
The Testing
The program is using a nationally recognized laboratory that performed testing for the Flint, Michigan water crisis for the citizens. The Foundation has worked with this lab to develop this testing protocol and they understand the needs and goals of the program. They are testing water for Rockwool specific chemicals. The lab is using EPA certified protocols that offer the highest sensitivity (important for a screening test). This will provide with scientifically defensible data. This lab is capable, has ample experience, and is a court recognized expert. This results in the cost of the testing being $719 as opposed to a lower cost for testing general common chemicals in the water.
The Foundation recognizes that this cost is high, particularly in these economic times, but the testing must be done before Rockwool begins operations. This is a group rate that the Foundation has worked hard to obtain. The test includes:
- 109 total analytes (things measured)
- 2 Rockwool specific tests (specific as much as possible); these are things that:
- Are not in the background environment
- Rockwool has a likelihood to contaminate the groundwater with
- Rockwool has contaminated groundwater elsewhere with
- 107 tests in a comprehensive well analysis
- Rockwool may also increase the level of some of these things in the water, so it is important to track them over time.
- Overnight shipping and handling of the samples back to the laboratory where they will be tested.
The Sampling
The program is using a separate environmental consulting company to collect the samples. This company has decades of experience in this type of work, is also capable and willing to provide expert testimony in a court case if necessary. This company is also providing independent analysis of the laboratory results to participants. The sampling company will maintain the necessary chain of custody and documentation necessary to withstand legal scrutiny. The sampling takes about 45 minutes at each residence. The cost varies some depending on the number of people participating in each sampling group, but averages around $250. Again, Jefferson County Foundation has worked hard to obtain a group rate.
The Goal
The Foundation’s Water Testing Committee has worked hard over many months with geologist, hydrogeologist, biologists, diagnostic scientists, laboratories, environmental consultants, and lawyers to ensure that the well testing program would have the best chance of identifying pollution from Rockwool in well and or groundwater and provide people with data and evidence that would have the best chance of withstanding legal scrutiny at the best price we could achieve. The Foundation thinks it is a necessary part of keeping the water resources of Jefferson County safe, and if there is pollution from Rockwool, to hold Rockwool accountable.
We are grateful to those who are participating and we would be happy to help you determine if it is right for you. Please contact us (jeffersoncountyfoundation@gmail.com) with any questions or if you are interested in participating.