SAVAGE MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY
MILFORD, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the information reviewed, ATSDR considers this site a public health hazard because
humans were probably exposed to hazardous substances at concentrations that may result in
adverse health effects. Human exposure to VOCs and metals may occur or may be occurring
(and probably occurred in the past) via ingestion of drinking water and via dermal absorption and
inhalation of contaminants from vapors and aerosols from contaminated groundwater. At
present, all drinking water is supplied by municipal sources and current human exposure to
contaminated water supplies is not a concern. However, past exposure to contaminated
groundwater from municipal and private water supply wells is of public health hazard, as the
consumers of these water supplies may have been exposed to a variety of carcinogenic
(tetrachloroethylene) and noncarcinogenic (1,2-dichloro-ethylene and 1,1,1-trichloroethane)
VOCs for a number of years.
Soils both on- and off-site have been contaminated with VOCs, PCBs, and heavy metals.
Potential exists for exposure by area residents and on-site workers to contaminants present in on-
and off-site soils via incidental ingestion, direct contact, and inhalation of fugitive dusts.
Sediment samples have been found to contain low levels of VOCs and elevated levels of heavy
metals, PCBs, and PAHs. Potential exists for recreational users of waterways and area residents
to be exposed to contaminated sediments by incidental ingestion and direct contact exists.
Surface water samples, mainly from the Hitchiner-Hendrix discharge stream, which flows into
the Souhegan River, have shown the presence of VOCs at elevated concentrations. Area
residents and recreational users of area waterways could be potentially exposed to contaminants
by incidental ingestion, direct contact, and inhalation of vapors from contaminated surface water.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Continued monitoring of groundwater on a regular basis, is recommended both on- and
off-site, to determine the extent of contaminant migration from the site. This should include
routine sampling of all area drinking water supplies (especially along North River Road) and
monitoring wells on and off-site. Additional sampling of residential water supply wells for
metals should also be considered. The concentrations of contaminants remaining in area
groundwater should eventually be reduced to levels which are protective of human health.
The levels of contaminants in surface soils in and around the site should continue to be
monitored. This should include periodic sampling for fugitive dusts in ambient air. If
appropriate, speciation of chromium in soil samples for the trivalent and hexavalent forms should
also be conducted, as the hexavalent form is a human carcinogen by the inhalation route of
exposure. Additional soil sampling for PCBs is also needed in order to verify and characterize
the extent of off-site PCB contamination, as only two off-site soil samples were analyzed for
PCBs, with a high level being detected in one sample. The removal and proper disposal of soils
with high concentrations of contaminants should be conducted if the presence of these soils is
determined to pose a threat to human health. Fencing or other restrictive measures should also be
considered in such areas to limit access by the public.
Sediment samples in area waterways, both on- and off-site, should continue to be taken
periodically, in order to monitor levels of contaminants present in this media.
Area surface waters should continue to be monitored routinely for contaminants which are
migrating or being discharged off-site. Process waste waters from the Hitchiner facility, that are
discharging into the discharge stream, should be sampled on a regular basis, in accordance with
their NPDES permit.
The Savage Municipal Water Supply Site, Milford, NH, has been evaluated by ATSDR's
Health Activities Recommendation Panel for appropriate follow-up with respect to health
activities. Although there are indications that past exposure to drinking water containing
contaminants at levels of public health concern has occurred, this site is not being considered for
follow-up health activities at this time. The Panel, however, recommended that a dose
reconstruction analysis be performed by ATSDR to better characterize the duration and levels of
exposure. Once the dose reconstruction is complete, the site will be reevaluated by HARP for
appropriate follow-up health activities.
CERTIFICATION
This interim public health assessment was prepared by the New Hampshire Department of Health
and Human Services under a cooperative agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry (ATSDR). It is in accordance with approved methodology and procedures
existing at the time the public health assessment was initiated.
Gregory V. Ulirsch Technical Project Officer, SPS, RPB, DHAC
The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation (DHAC), ATSDR, has reviewed this public
health assessment and concurs with its findings.
Robert C. Williams, PE, DEE Director, DHAC, ATSDR
PREPARERS OF REPORT
NH Division of Public Health Services
John L. Guty Environmental Health Specialist
Ellen G. Cavalier, MPH Supervisor, Risk Assessment Program
Bridget A. Whalen Word Processor Operator
ATSDR REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Louise A. House
Regional Representative
Regional Operations
TECHNICAL PROJECT OFFICER
Gregory V. Ulirsch
Environmental Health Engineer
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
REFERENCES
Draft Remedial Investigation, Savage Well Site, Milford, New Hampshire, Prepared by HMM Associates, Inc., Concord, MA for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region I, Boston MA. November 1989.
Preliminary Health Assessment, Savage Municipal Well Site, Milford, New Hampshire,
Prepared by New Hampshire Division of Public Health Services, Concord, NH for Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, GA. January 1990.
Memo from R. Geohlert, Environmental Protection Agency, to T. Bazenas, Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry. December 13, 1991.
Hydrogeological Investigation of the Savage Well Site, Milford, New Hampshire, Volumes I
and II, Prepared by Hydrogeological Investigation Unit-New Hampshire Water Supply and Pollution Control Commission, Concord, NH. June 1985.
Memo from Sharon A. Yergeau, NH Bureau of Hazardous Waste Management, to the
Hendrix Wire and Cable file. February 25, 1983.
Memo from James B. Zeppieri, NH Waste Management Division, to John Guty, NH Division
of Public Health Services. May 23, 1990.
RCRA Inspection List by Ken Marschner, NH Bureau of Hazardous Waste Management.
February 24, 1983.
Letter from William A. Healy, NH Water Supply and Pollution Control Commission, to the
Hitchiner Manufacturing Company. June 27, 1980.
Letter from Michael J. Deazy, New England Steel Fabricators, Inc., to Sharon A. Yergeau,
NH Bureau of Hazardous Waste Management. September 28, 1983.
Memo from Arthur J. Cunningham, to Lynn A. Woodard, NH Water Supply and Pollution
Control Commission. February 17, 1983.
Letter from William A. Healy and Brian C. Strohm, NH Bureau of Hazardous Waste
Management, to Thomas Hollis, Jr., OK Tool Company, Inc. June 6, 1983.
Record of Decision, Savage Municipal Water Supply Superfund site, Milford, New
Hampshire. Prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency September 27, 1991.
Personal Communication from Dr. Donald Fritz, Veterinarian, Peterborough, NH. January
16, 1991.
Personal Communication from Michael Lynch, Milford Town Health Officer. April 26, 1990.
Draft Baseline Health Risk Assessment Report, Savage Well NPL Site, Milford, New
Hampshire, Prepared by Environmental Science & Engineering, Inc., Amherst, NH for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-Region I, Boston, MA. July 1990.
Toxicological Profile for Arsenic, Draft for Public Comment; ATSDR, U.S. Public Health
Service, November 1987.
Toxicological Profile for Cadmium; ATSDR, U.S. Public Health Service, March 1989.
Toxicological Profile for Chromium, Draft for Public Comment; ATSDR, U.S. Public Health
Service, October 1987.
Toxicological Profile for Selected PCBs, Draft for Public Comment; ATSDR, U.S. Public
Health Service, November 1987.
Toxicological Profile for Nickel; ATSDR, U.S. Public Health Service, December 1988.
New Hampshire Vital Statistics - 1988 Annual Report, Prepared by the NH Division of
Public Health Services, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics, Concord, NH. April 1990.
Personal Communication from Marie Kiely, NH Division of Public Health Services, Bureau
of Disease Control. April 25, 1990.
Toxicological Profile for Lead; ATSDR, U.S. Public Health Service, June 1990.
