The San Benito County Public Health Department has issued a
public health announcement concerning perchlorate contamination in
the southern Santa Clara Valley.
Perchlorate, which is commonly used to manufacture rocket
propellant, explosives and road flares, poses a human health risk
by interfering with the natural function of the thyroid gland.
The San Benito County Public Health Department has issued a public health announcement concerning perchlorate contamination in the southern Santa Clara Valley.
Perchlorate, which is commonly used to manufacture rocket propellant, explosives and road flares, poses a human health risk by interfering with the natural function of the thyroid gland.
San Benito County is home to two sites of perchlorate contamination – the McCormick Selph, Inc. facility on Union Road and the PacSci-Quantic facility on San Juan Hollister Road.
Samples from the public drinking water supplies serving these facilities, and the City of Hollister water system, have been analyzed for the presence of perchlorate.
It was not detected in any of the samples.
Under the supervision of the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, the McCormick and PacSci-Quantic facilities are working to identify and remove the contaminant from soil and ground water.
Should further analysis find perchlorate at concentrations greater than the action level established by the Department of Health Services, operators would be required to notify the local government.
Private well owners may contract a laboratory certified for drinking water to test their water supply at their own expense.
To receive more information regarding the cleanup projects contact David Athey at the Regional Water Quality Control Board at (805) 542-4644.
To obtain drinking water information visit the Department of Health Services Web site at http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ddwem/chemicals/perchl/perchlindex/htm, or call the City of Hollister at 636-4377.
