By Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

Through the State Department of Health and Human Services, the Rowan County Health Department could soon offer tests for heavy metals that have been linked to coal ash contamination to Rowan residents.

With 44 wells near Buck Steam Station declared unsafe for consumption, some residents outside of a designated testing radius have been left wondering whether their private wells may also be contaminated. The radius determined by the state is 1,500 feet for Buck Steam Station, but exceptions may have been made for wells just outside of the radius, according to Department of Environment and Natural Resources Spokeswoman Sarah Young.

A total of 100 houses near Buck Steam Station have been identified for testing, but help may be on the way for Rowan residents who couldn’t have their well tested as a part of a mandate by the 2014 Coal Ash Management Act.

The Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday confirmed the State Lab of Public Health is working to develop testing kits that could detect hexavalent chromium and vanadium. The testing kits would be provided at a cost to local health departments and returned to the State Lab of Public Health.

A cost hasn’t yet been determined for health departments, according to Rowan’s Environmental Health Manager Tad Helmstetler. The cost for the kits could be anywhere from about $20 to about $70, Helmstetler said. His office has the capability to test private wells, but not for the heavy metals and other contaminants associated with coal ash.

“In response to the testing that’s already been done near Duke Energy’s site, people outside the testing area who are concerned about water have asked if testing is available and this would give them that opportunity,” Helmstetler said.

The Environmental Health Office is waiting for a cost, he said, so a number could be included in Rowan County’s fiscal year 2016 proposed budget, which is up for consideration during Monday’s regularly scheduled commissioners’ meeting. Rowan County could also pass a budget amendment after the 2016 fiscal year begins in July.

“Until we receive information regarding the price and availability, we are unsure if it is something we will be able to offer,” Helmstetler said about the testing.

A select few labs, offered as testing options to residents near coal ash pits, had capabilities to test for hexavalent chromium at appropriate amounts. Huntersville-based Pace Analytical Services is an example. Pace was one of five options offered to Dukeville residents in a 2014 letter notifying residents of the start of testing.

Pace, one of two labs that found hexavalent chromium in wells near Buck steam Station, found varying levels of the element in soil. Eight of the 11 Rowan tests conducted by Pace showed hexavalent chromium in levels above state standards. One test from Reidsville-based Meritech Inc. also showed hexavalent chromium at levels above state standards.

The state has ordered the retesting of wells near Buck Steam Station as a result of the limited number of labs with testing capability for for hexavalent chromium, which is a known cancer-causing toxin.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246