Pentachlorophenol contamination of private drinking water from treated utility poles

Abstract

In 2009, after resident calls regarding an odor, the Vermont Department of Health and state partners responded to 2 scenarios of private drinking water contamination from utility poles treated with pentachlorophenol (PCP), an organochlorine wood preservative used in the United States. Public health professionals should consider PCP contamination of private water if they receive calls about a chemical or gasoline-like odor with concurrent history of nearby utility pole replacement.

FIGURE 1—

First scenario: pentachlorophenol-treated pole near contaminated well.