Arsenic concerns in Durham

Durham, Conn. (WTNH) - People living near a Durham school may want to think twice about taking a swig from the tap.

Residents are concerned about their drinking water and whether it might be contaminated with arsenic.

Should residents be worried?

"At this point, no they should not be worried," said Durham Town Sanitarian Bill Milardo.

Still,some residents are thinking twice about drinking the tap water after state health officials found trace levels in wells tested at the Brewster Elementary School on Tuttle Road.

"Right now I"m not going to panic until the five days are up and the tests come back," Claudia Hill of Durham said.

Hill and her family have lived in this neighborhood for 27 years. They are one of about 60 homeowners notified of the potential problem. They are being encouraged to test their wells. As a precaution, the town randomly sampled three wells north, south and west of the school.

Arsenic can cause potential health problems including cancer.

"One of the wells had a trace level of arsenic the other two had levels that were approaching the maximum levels so those will be tested in the next 3 to 6 months to see if their is any variation in arsenic levels," Milardo said

Hill's well hasn't been tested in years. Her family is still drinking the water and for now the town considers it safe.

"These are well established homes so we don't think to check our wells," Hill said. "Yeah, I'm a little concerned because I don't want to have to drink bottled water. Is it ok for my animals? I have no idea."

"These are low levels but we want to make sure there aren't' high levels out there," Milardo said.

Durham says it will collect results from the private wells as it continues to monitor the situation.