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Contaminated water found in West Valley wells; water shortage possible if fix isn't made

Posted at 10:46 PM, Jun 24, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-25 12:18:20-04

A west Valley water company needs to remedy elevated chemical levels in two water wells in order to meet summer water demand, according to a regulatory filing.

Liberty Utilities in Litchfield Park shut down the wells due to new guidance this year from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The EPA lowered recommended levels for the chemicals PFOA and PFOS. Exposure to elevated levels of the chemicals could cause birth defects, cancer, and liver damage, according to the EPA.

Liberty told state regulators the company needs to treat the water in the shut-down wells and start pumping from them again in order to meet summer water demand.

The company told regulators that Liberty did not cause the chemicals to be in the water.

The company serves approximately 18,000 customers in the Litchfield Park area, according to a filing.

A message left for comment with the Liberty Utilities company president was not returned Friday.