Listed below are the sampling and procedural guidelines used by the WLA Water Testing Committee as developed by the NHDES. All of our testing is under the guidance of the Department of Environmental Services and the sample analysis is performed in their Concord laboratory. Also listed are homeowner guides to storm water runoff lot designs and on maintaining a healthy septic system.
2023 PFAS Grant
At the 2022 annual meeting concern was raised about the national attention being focused on PFAS contamination and its effect in our neighborhood. The WLA volunteer lake assessment group raised specific questions to the state DES last year and were informed that guidelines, testing and additional answers would be forthcoming.
Recently The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services released these guidelines, test results to date and a grant program to assist homeowners affected by PFAS contamination. Attached below is the press release page along with the instructions for submitting claims.
To be eligible your well water must be tested by the homeowner and if levels of these contaminants are above the NHDES’ Ambient Groundwater Quality Standard levels mentioned in the attached page you can be eligible. As with all grant programs time is of the essence. Note that no testing of wells or surface water in Washington, NH have been published.
Please review the attached information as it includes a person and phone number at the state DES to answer any questions.
https://www.pfas.des.nh.gov/funding/pfas-removal-rebate-program-private-wells
Please note that the State suggests cleaning out homeowner septic systems every tow to three years. Most WLA homes have septic systems dating to the 1960's ad 1970's and most were undersized from the beginning. Older systems are susceptible to groundwater infiltration causing the discharge of nutrients irrespective of usage.
https://www.des.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt341/files/documents/2020-01/ssb-13.pdf