Bethany Crest water safe to drink, officials say

MILLVILLE, Del. – Officials say samples taken from the water system serving residents of the Bethany Crest community have showed that the finished water is safe for drinking and cooking.

A recent sampling found that the source water (before treatment) from the Bethany Crest water system was at or near the Health Advisory Level of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFAS in drinking water. The Department of Natural Resources and Division of Public Health acted quickly to sample the finished drinking water (after treatment) going to residents. We’re told samples showed that an ion exchange treatment that had already been in place for the water system had been successful at removing PFAS from the community’s drinking water.

Out of an abundance of caution, DPH advised residents in the Bethany Crest community to use bottled water, provided by the water system owner, for drinking and cooking while the finished water samples were being tested.

Results from a sample taken on October 23rd showed that the ion exchange treatment had removed PFAS to significantly below the health advisory level of 70 ppt. Results also indicated that, while other wells and public water were sampled within a one-mile radius of Bethany Crest showed PFAS detections, all were below the EPA health advisory level.

Health officials say they are continuing to work with the system owner to identify long-term strategies that can be implemented to ensure the risk to residents does not increase in the future.