DRINKING WATER NOTICE

WARNING
FOR PARENTS OF INFANTS 6 MONTHS AND YOUNGER
DO NOT USE THE WATER FOR INFANT FORMULA

High nitrate levels were detected in June 2010. Bottled water should be used.
We are providing bottled water for infants and their families at Papen Farms.
Adults and children older than 6 months can drink the water.

Routine samples on June 2 and June 4, 2010 showed a nitrate concentration in the drinking water of 31.9 ppm, 31.1 ppm and 31.6 ppm respectively. This is above the nitrate standard, or maximum contaminant level, of 10 ppm that the State of Delaware, Division of Public Health has adopted.

Possible Health Effects

• Infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the maximum contaminant level could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue baby syndrome. Blue baby syndrome is indicated by blueness of the skin. Nitrate is a concern for infants because they cannot process nitrates in the same way adults can.
• Symptoms in infants can develop rapidly, with health deteriorating over a period of days. If symptoms occur in a child less than 6 months old, seek medical attention immediately.
• If you are pregnant or have specific health concerns, you may wish to consult your doctor.

Steps We Are Taking

We are working with the Office of Drinking and DNREC to determine why we continue to get high nitrate results.

We anticipate resolving the problem within 3 months.  We will inform you when this problem has been corrected.

For more information, please contact Richard Papen of Papen Farms at (302) 697-3291 or Sharon Scheers at (302) 741-8627.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly.

This notice is provided by Papen Farms.

Public Water System ID#: DE0000213

Date Distributed: 06/11/10