Water Quality Testing in Puerto Rico from Public and Private Sources for Arsenic, Lead and Other Contaminants

In 2017, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) released a report claiming that “Puerto Rico suffers the worst rate of drinking water violations of any state or territory in the nation.” The report declared that more than 3 million people on the islands were served by water systems with violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Violations of the Arsenic Rule were included in their report, which can also be a concern for those who get their water from private wells.
 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes arsenic as an element that occurs naturally in rocks and soil and is used for a variety of purposes within industry and agriculture. Unfortunately, arsenic and many of its compounds are also potent poisons.
 
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recognizes arsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds as group 1 carcinogens. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that arsenic has been linked to a number of cancers, including cancer of the bladder, lungs, skin, kidney, nasal passages, liver and prostate. Non-cancer effects of arsenic exposure include thickening and discoloration of the skin, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, numbness in the hands and feet, partial paralysis and blindness.
 
“People can be exposed to arsenic from a number of sources, including from drinking water where it is tasteless and odorless,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “Arsenic can enter drinking water supplies from natural deposits in the earth or from agricultural and industrial practices. Some industries release significant amounts of arsenic and arsenic compounds into the environment. Any in the air will eventually be removed by rain, snow and gradual settling. Once on the ground or in surface water, arsenic can slowly enter the groundwater. High arsenic levels in groundwater can also come from certain arsenic containing fertilizers and herbicides that were used in the past or from industrial waste. The maximum concentration allowed in drinking water regulated by EPA is 10 ppb.”
 
In Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean, the water quality experts at Zimmetry Environmental offer testing services for arsenic and a wide range of other chemical, biological, radiological and physical contaminants. Zimmetry has even recently sponsored an educational video about arsenic and testing drinking water that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/zpwmcBPKw08
 
To learn more about this or other environmental, building science, industrial hygiene or compliance services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .
 
  About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals, and Fortune 500 companies.  The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America.  The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs, and general environmental consulting services.
 

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail