Public Comment Period Open for Guam EPA Draft Risk Assessment on Dieldrin in Water

The Guam Environmental Protection Agency is taking action to address a potentially harmful chemical, dieldrin, that has been detected in Guam water. The agency has released a draft risk assessment that would require public water system operators to monitor for dieldrin at least four times a year and notify the public when concentrations exceed a certain level.

Residents have until August 14 to provide comments on the draft assessment, and a public hearing will be held on June 24 at the Guam EPA headquarters. The chemical dieldrin, which was widely used as an insecticide in the U.S. before being banned, has been associated with cancer and can cause liver damage and impact the nervous system.

Guam EPA has been monitoring concentrations of dieldrin in local water wells since last year, with levels up to 1.9 parts per billion identified. Long-term consumption of water with over 0.2 parts per billion of dieldrin poses an “unacceptable” risk of developing cancer, according to the draft assessment.

If finalized, public water system operators will be required to monitor for dieldrin at all entry points on a quarterly basis. Customers will be notified if dieldrin levels exceed certain thresholds, and they will be advised not to drink or cook with untreated water. The Guam Waterworks Authority has plans to clean up dieldrin and other “forever chemicals” found in Guam water wells.

It is important for residents to stay informed about the presence of dieldrin in their water and take necessary precautions to protect their health. Residents can visit epa.guam.gov/dieldrin for more information and email written testimony to julie.mendoza@epa.guam.gov.