Consumption advisory issued for Hockanum River fish
Health department warns of possible PFAS contamination
The state Department of Public Health and Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Friday issued a consumption advisory for fish caught in the Hockanum River because of possible PFAS contamination, citing a stretch of the waterway starting below the Shenipsit Lake dam in Vernon through to the Connecticut River, according to the agencies and the office of state Sen. Saud Anwar.
Sections of the river flowing through Ellington, Vernon, Manchester and East Hartford are included in the consumption advisory, according to Anwar.
“Studies on PFAS substances find that they can negatively impact human health,” Anwar said in a statement. “In recent years, the General Assembly has taken action to restrict potential PFAS pollution because of potential circumstances like this. I join the Department of Public Health and DEEP in asking residents who fish in the Hockanum River to avoid eating any fish they catch until it can be confirmed
they are safe to consume.”
Based on locations identified by DEEP, DPH recommends not eating fish from:
The Hockanum River starting below the Shenipsit Lake dam (Tolland Avenue, Vernon) to the Connecticut River, including the riverine impoundments of Papermill Pond (including Pitney
Park, Vernon)
Union Pond (Manchester) Several small impoundments or ponds on the Hockanum River (East Hartford)
The Tankerhoosen River (from the Hockanum River upstream to the dam at Main Street)
DEEP reported locations along the Hockanum River from Vernon to the Connecticut River will likely have elevated levels of PFAS in fish, with the advisory including Union Pond in Manchester, several small ponds on the Hockanum River in East Hartford and the Tankerhoosen River.
The advisory does not apply to Shenipsit Lake or affect the public drinking water supply, the agencies said. The last drinking water sample collected by Connecticut Water Company showed no PFAS above laboratory limits, according to the state agencies.
“The fish consumption advisory is based on fish tissue results recently received and validated. Fish samples were collected in September 2021 in Vernon, between Route 74 and Dart Hill Road,” DEEP said in an online advisory. “In total, 30 fish representing three species — American eel, fallfish and white sucker — were analyzed for PFAS concentrations. Tissue samples showed PFAS at concentrations above levels considered by DPH to be safe for human consumption. PFAS concentrations in white sucker were somewhat lower than the other species tested.”
While fish are not safe for consumption in these areas, fishing and boating remain safe, DPH and DEEP said. Signs will be posted at affected areas.
“Long term exposure to PFAS may be associated with increased levels of cholesterol and liver enzymes, a change in immune response, an increased chance of high blood pressure and/or pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, and an increased chance of thyroid disease, developmental defects, and cancer, especially kidney and testicular cancers,” according to the agencies.
Additional information on DPH fish consumption advisories can be found at: https://portal.ct.gov/fish or by calling a DPH staff person at 1-877-458-FISH (3474).
The DEEP statement noted that the agency “stocked the Hockanum River with 2,059 trout earlier this spring (March 4 and 23) before receiving the data showing elevated PFAS levels in river fish in the area. Anglers are strongly encouraged to either strictly practice catch and release fishing in the areas subject to this advisory, or to fish in other nearby waterbodies also stocked with trout.”
The locations can be viewed on the DEEP interactive trout stocking map at: www.ct.gov/deep/ troutstockingmaps.
No additional stocking of trout will occur in the Hockanum River or lower Tankerhoosen River this spring, according to DEEP.