Rising Nitrate Levels, Poor Sanitary Control Spur Water System Consolidation Study for Chehalis

Posted

Chehalis city councilors were informed earlier this week that a feasibility study for the consolidation of water systems is due because of concerns about rising nitrate levels. 

A state official said there are other concerns as well.

“I think the area in general has rising nitrates, but mostly the issues with the water systems that are being consolidated are poor sanitary control area setbacks for the wells,” Andy Anderson, assistant regional manager with the Washington Department of Health, said. 

The $30,000 state safe drinking water grant for the study will look at the engineering and financial issues with connecting North Hamilton Road systems to Chehalis’ system.

The project’s scope of work for the about four small systems located off of North Hamilton Road says that along with sanitary control infringements, source well locations in vaults, financial challenges, water shortages and a lack of resources to manage the systems safely, they also have rising nitrate levels. 

In a scope of services for the project, the two highest nitrate levels noted are 8.4 and 9.6 parts per million. The Environmental Protection Agency requires nitrate levels not to exceed 10 parts per million in public water system. Multiple owners sent letters to the city stating they would like to connect to its system.

Along with the systems under the state’s jurisdiction, systems under Lewis County’s jurisdiction and undeveloped property along the roadway will be considered in the study as well.

Dave Vasilauskas, water superintendent for Chehalis, said the city’s water main extends to Stihl Northwest on North Hamilton Road. The study will look at properties from there to the intersection with Hamilton Road, which is about half of a mile total.

The study has a Sept. 30 deadline.

Sue Kennedy, environmental health specialist with Lewis County Public Health and Social Services, said the county has been monitoring the wells in its jurisdiction since the systems were developed.

The systems under the county are required to test for bacteria annually and nitrates once every three years, Kennedy said.

“If we start seeing it rise or we see it go above 5 parts per million we have them monitor more often,” she said. “And so we have some systems out there that we have been having them monitor more often.”

She said when nitrates levels rise, they do so slowly. 



Rising nitrate levels can be caused by old swamps, failed septic systems, wastewater treatment plants that don’t have sealed ponds, manure and fertilizers. 

“It’s pretty hard on nitrates to say, ‘It’s from here,’” Kennedy said. “We don’t have that option.”

High nitrate levels reduce red blood cells’ ability to carry oxygen. Kennedy said the biggest concern with high nitrate levels is methemoglobinemia, commonly known as blue baby syndrome.  

The syndrome is uncommon, according to the World Health Organization. Signs of it include blueness around the mouth, hands and feet, and it can cause trouble breathing, vomiting and diarrhea. 

“Basically that is the biggest thing that we worry about because it’s an acute contaminant,” Kennedy said.