Local Businesses React to Elevated Chemicals in Water

DOVER, Del.- Contaminated water could pose a health risk to local businesses and their customers after testing results confirmed elevated levels of chemicals in several wells near Dover Air Force Base.

Businesses tell 47 ABC that the base has been quick to respond and they made sure that everyone has bottled water. The only downside they say, is that they wish the base had caught the issue before the water got contaminated.

The water may look normal, but according to the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control it contains elevated levels of perfluoroalkyl substances or PFAs. It’s a chemical that the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry says can cause adverse health risks which include reproductive issues, affect growth of children and increase the risk of cancer.

“The chemical was very high, they said 70 is the normal level, but ours here is 2,840,” Mungobwele Saidi, owner of the Loyal Synergy Thrift Store said. “It doesn’t worry me, but it will affect other people, I knew from the beginning and I was proactive to use water from the bottle.”

Dover Air Force Base notified DNREC that several wells near the base have been contaminated by PFAs, which can often be found in fire fighting foam.

Businesses say the base responded quickly after test results came back. They say the base immediately by providing bottled water to every business that normally consumes water from the wells.

“The government has done well, I like how they kept me in the loop and they have contacted me each time they were on site or were going to be on site,” John Clendaniel, owner of the Northgate Laundromat said.

Clendaniel wishes they’d have fixed the problem before the water got contaminated and that he is still unsure when the problem will be solved.

We reached out to DNREC and the Dover Air Force Base for comment but they haven’t gotten back to us.