Elevated Levels Of Chemical Found In Maynard Drinking Water May Pose Risk To Pregnant Women, Infants

MAYNARD (CBS) -- Elevated levels of a chemical found in Maynard's drinking water may pose a risk to infants, pregnant women and women who may become pregnant, town officials say.

The town made the announcement in a press statement Saturday after higher-than-normal levels of trihalomethane (TTHM) were found in one of the town's four active water wells.

The discovery was made during a regularly-schedule quarterly test on Dec. 16, 2015. However, the state's Department of Environmental Protection didn't notify town officials of the elevated levels until this week.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's standard for TTHMs in drinking water is less than 80 parts per billion, and the well in question had 89 parts per billion.

"TTHMs are created as the result of organic compounds reacting with chlorine," reads the statement. "Chlorine is used in virtually all drinking water supplies to ensure that the drinking water is clean and free from potentially deadly contamination from bacteria and microorganisms."

The statement adds that TTHMs are "a byproduct of this process, and occasionally, the levels can rise beyond what the EPA says is acceptable."

The finding by the town has Maynard resident Nate Markley worried because his wife is nine months pregnant.

"We've just been concerned about correlations with miscarriage in the first trimester, with possible stillborn births and bladder cancer, liver problems, nervous system problems over time," he told WBZ-TV's Jim Smith.

"The town's water supply is safe to drink and use," reads the statement. "No boil water order has been issued."

In a news conference Saturday, Town Administrator Andrew Scribner-MacLean says, "There is some concern. There is some evidence TTHMs might be harmful, (so) you should follow-up with your physician on that."

"In the meantime, we'll be flushing our water lines," he added.

Markley says he is "disappointed" with how everything has been handled, and his family would've stopped drinking the town water months ago had they been properly notified.

Maynard will be conducting TTHM testing on Monday, and that testing will be done on a regular basis, according to the statement.

The town will also be meeting with the Department of Environmental Protection Monday to discuss the long-term cause and effect issues and to create a long-term strategy, the statement says.