PETERSBURG – The state Department of Environmental Protection is working with Upper Township to investigate the presence of mercury in about a dozen private wells in the Beesley’s Point section of the township.
Township Business Administrator Gary DeMarzo said around a dozen wells in the Bayaire Road/Homestead Court area of Beesley’s Point were identified as containing mercury since a homeowner’s well test revealed its presence. One family was notified by a private well-testing company on Sept. 17 not to use their water.
Since then, DeMarzo said, test results have been turned over to the county Health Department, which contacted the township and the DEP. Preliminary tests confirmed there were contaminants in the initial well, and subsequent tests revealed that other wells showed the presence of mercury.
Gregory Broslawski, the DEP’s community relations coordinator, said, “We are still early in our investigation, and once we have the data from our upcoming sampling event, we would feel much better equipped to have an informed meeting [with the township] specific to our investigation.”
DeMarzo said the state agency has taken up the mantle with regard to an investigation. “They are not fooling around. We’re pretty pleased with their response. They’ve been really on top of this,” he said.
“They expanded the grid [of testing] and are doing testing to this day,” the administrator said on Monday, Oct. 14. “Right now, it is all in the Bayaire/Homestead area.”
DeMarzo said the DEP continues to test area wells for mercury and is in constant communication with Upper Township and the county. He said each agency’s point of contact, project leader and other top-level decision makers are working together, so that the necessary actions can be taken without delay.
The DEP is assisting in offering residential relocation for those affected and has authorized two filtration systems for each home found to have a contaminated well.
The state Department of Health has also offered assistance in contacting individuals with specific health concerns.
Asked about the township’s role in the investigation, DeMarzo said essentially the township has been a resource for the county and state agencies, identifying property owners who might be affected and getting in touch with those owners.
He said one of the immediate problems the township identified is relocating students out of the affected homes who might need assistance getting to school.
“We’re just making sure we are accountable, being a nexus between real estate offices, schools, the Department of Health … we are the boots on the ground for the state agency,” DeMarzo said.
The administrator said there is no indication of who or what might be responsible for the mercury contamination in the neighborhood, located between Route 9 and the Garden State Parkway.
Mayor Jay Newman said in a statement that the Township Committee was dedicated to resolving the matter.
“The committee assures you we want no less than the issues fixed ASAP, and we want clean and safe water to our residents, and we want it done yesterday,” Newman said.
“At this time, our goal is to keep testing until the entire contamination plume area is identified and clean, safe drinking water is obtained and provided to all. We ask for patience as we all work through the process. As the township obtains relevant information, we as the township will get that information out to you.”
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
