Treating Toxic Water May Cost New Castle, Del., $1M

City officials in New Castle, Delaware, say the costs for managing toxic contamination found in all three of the city’s public water wells could top $1 million.

Pamela Patone, general manager of New Castle’s Municipal Services Commission tells The News Journal the city is looking at temporary and permanent treatments needed to resume use of the city’s three wells. Costs could range from $350,000 to more than $1 million.

Patone says water officials are still investigating the source and liability for the pollution.

Officials have focused on the longtime use of fire-fighting foams at the nearby Delaware Air National Guard Base at New Castle Airport. Those foams contain perfluorinated chemicals, or PFCs, which are an emerging health concern for drinking water supplies nationwide.