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MVD PFC Progress Report and Next Steps May 26, 2016 Dear MVD Customer/Resident, As you are no doubt aware, low concentrations of certain perfluorinated chemicals (PFC’s) have been detected in the Merrimack Village District (MVD) water system. The MVD is served by groundwater pumped from six (6) wells in sand and gravel deposits. The source of these PFC’s is most likely airborne contamination originating from an industry in the northeast portion of Merrimack. The contaminants are then carried by precipitation or runoff into our aquifers. The primary contaminant is perflourooctanoic acid or PFOA. Lower concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) have also been found. PFC’s are extremely stable manmade compounds used in the manufacture of non-stick coatings on pots and pans, water resistant clothing, stain resistant carpets, food packaging and a variety of other household and commercial products. Their stability makes them very persistent in the environment. For more information on PFC’s please visit the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) website and specifically the “Frequently Asked Questions” section. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has just (5/19/16) released a new lifetime health advisory level (HA) of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA, PFOS and if they co-occur, the sum of PFOA and PFOS concentrations. Prior to this, the only guidance was establishment of a Provisional Health Advisory (PHA) level of 400 ppt for PFOA and 200 ppt for PFOS for short term acute contact. Due to the increasing occurrence of PFOA and the lack of a federal standard, individual states and/or EPA regions have been setting their own PFOA drinking water standards. EPA Region 2 in New York set an Advisory Level of 100 ppt in connection with drinking water contamination in Hoosick Falls, NY. The State of Maine established a standard of 100 ppt for PFOA in drinking water based on analysis of peer reviewed literature. Based on the NY