SALISBURY, MD - The City of Salisbury has announced both the approval and funding of a water system extension to the Naylor Mill Mobile Home community to address high levels of PFAS chemicals in the drinking water.
According to the City, the Maryland Department of the Environment has granted nearly $5 million in loan principal forgiveness to fully cover the cost of the project, which was approved by Salisbury City Council this month.
PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” have been linked to diseases in humans and animals including kidney cancer, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, and low birth weight among others. The chemicals can build up over time in people and the environment, including public drinking water.
The City of Salisbury says the elevated levels at Naylor Mill Mobile Home Park were discovered during the Department of the Environment’s ongoing testing of drinking water across the state. Elevated levels of the chemicals were found in both of the community’s wells, with one showing more than 100 parts per trillion and leaving the mobile home park with just one usable well.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, concentration of PFAS above 70 parts per trillion will trigger a health advisory.
In January of 2023, the park’s owners requested aid from the City to address the elevated levels. The City said the project was listed 9th in importance out of 122 listed projects by the Maryland Water Infrastructure Financing Administration.
“Everyone deserves clean drinking water,” Mayor Randy Taylor said. “We are happy to extend water services to our neighbors at Naylor Mill and grateful for the state funding which has been provided to do so. An added benefit will be the additional fire protection provided to residents by the upgraded system.”
According to the City of Salisbury, the expansion project will also upgrade the park’s water system to include 8-inch water mains, replacing the current 2-inch mains. Fire hydrants will also be installed at code-required distances and water meters will be added to each individual lot, the City says.