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About a dozen wells were found to have "unacceptable levels of contamination" from mercury, Mayor John Newman said in a Facebook post on Monday, Oct. 14.
State and county health officials were helping the township identify the affected homes.
"It is important to understand that no correlation, blame, cause, or any other finger can be pointed to anyone for causing this contamination at this time," Mayor Newman wrote. "At this time, our goal is to keep testing until the entire contamination plume area is identified; and clean-safe drinking water is obtained and provided to all."
The state Department of Environmental Protection was invited to the township committee meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 15 to discuss the mercury issue but the agency has declined to attend because of "short notice."
"We are still early in our investigation, and once we have the data from our upcoming sampling event, we would feel much better equipped to have an informed meeting specific to our investigation," NJDEP said, according to the mayor's post.
Mayor Newman also said NJDEP has offered to relocate some people in homes with contaminated water. The agency authorized two water filtration systems for each impacted home.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, mercury is a metal chemical that's liquid at room temperature and naturally found in rock in the earth's crust or coal deposits. Mercury poisoning symptoms include loss of peripheral vision, "pins and needles" feelings in hands, feet, or around the mouth, muscle weakness, and problems with motor skills.
The state Department of Health was working with people who had specific health concerns.
"The Township is in contact with owners of local business and currently Upper is gathering all former and current DEP compliance materials for review," Mayor Newman said.
Tuesday's committee meeting will be held at Upper's municipal building on Tuckahoe Road at 6:30 p.m.
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