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Community Corner

Child Care Centers, Families Urged to Test Drinking Water

News from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: May 6, 2013 

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CONTACT:     Paul Susca (603) 271-7061, NH Department of Environmental Services
                        Denise Corvino (603) 271-9012, NH Department of Health and Human Services

CHILD CARE CENTERS AND FAMILIES URGED TO TEST DRINKING WATER

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CONCORD - The New Hampshire Departments of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Environmental Services (DES) are urging child care centers and families that get their drinking water from non-regulated private wells to have the water tested. “Natural contaminants such as arsenic, radon, bacteria, and manganese are commonly found at unhealthy levels in New Hampshire’s groundwater, and some of these contaminants are particularly harmful for children,” expressed Sarah Pillsbury, administrator of DES’s Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau.

“We’re focusing on getting well-testing information to small child care programs that use private wells for their water,” explained Denise Corvino, Chief of the Child Care Licensing program at DHHS.  “While these programs are not required to do the full range of testing, we are recommending that they complete the suggested tests and share the results with families."

DES and DHHS have released a fact sheet, “Drinking Water Safety Requirements and Recommendations for Child Care Programs,” that explains which child care programs are required to test, and which ones are the subject of recommendations.  The fact sheet also recommends that families that use private wells at home get their water tested so that they can make informed decisions about treating the water or getting their drinking water from a safer source.

The fact sheet is available on the DES website, www.des.nh.gov, and can be obtained by calling (603) 271-2513.  Information about testing laboratories can also be found on the DES website (search for “NHDES private well testing”) or by calling the number above. Each year, in recognition of National Drinking Water Week, May 5 to 11, DES encourages private well owners to test their drinking water.

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