State warns residents of uranium pollution

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Kathy Helms
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — The New Mexico Environment Department will hold a water fair to test well water from private wells only in the San Mateo Basin from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21 at Cibola County Building, 515 High St. in Grants. All present and future owners and users of private wells that are within the advisory area are advised to sample their wells to ensure the quality of well water does not pose health concerns.

Water from public drinking water systems will not be tested because those supplies are routinely tested and deemed to be safe pursuant to the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

In addition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 will hold a community meeting 6-8 p.m., the same day, also at the Cibola County Building.

State Environment Department scientists and staff members also will be available to answer questions about potential well water contamination, the advisory and other efforts the area.

The New Mexico Environment Department is advising Cibola and McKinley County residents with private wells within the San Mateo Creek Basin that their water may pose a health threat from uranium and other contaminants.

According to a news release from the Environment Department, the contaminants are from naturally occurring ore deposits within the “Grants Uranium Belt” and from former uranium mine and mill processing of those deposits in the area.

Well water in the area could exceed federal and state drinking water standards for uranium, radium 226 and radium 228, chloride, gross alpha, lead, manganese, nitrate, pH, selenium, sulfate, and total dissolved solids. Other contaminants detected for which federal drinking water standards have not been established include, iron, molybdenum, thorium 230, and vanadium.

“We are working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to assist residents in the area with concerns related to their drinking water,” said Secretary Ron Curry of New Mexico Environment Department.

“Naturally occurring ore and past mining practices contributed to the contamination of water in the area. We urge residents to test their well water and will offer our assistance and expertise to ensure well owners have the information they need.”

Health risks for long-term exposure to gross alpha, lead, nitrate, radium, selenium, sulfate, thorium, and uranium contaminants that have been documented could include cancer, kidney, spleen, and liver damage, birth defects, systemic mineral imbalance and digestive problems.

Information: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwh/, http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html, http://www.health.state.nm.us/index.html and http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/dwb/index.htm