Updates on Salisbury private wells sampling for PFAS

Resources for our community

This page is updated weekly. Last update: October 28, 2024

Well testing area Progress update Test results & next steps FAQs Resources Contact

For over 100 years, Perdue has been more than just a business in this community — we’ve been neighbors. Part of being a good neighbor means ensuring the safety and well-being of the communities where we live and work.

Recently, groundwater tests at our Perdue AgriBusiness facility located at 6906 Zion Church Road, Salisbury, Maryland have revealed elevated levels of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). To further investigate this issue and better understand the situation, the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) has requested that we test properties within a prescribed radius of this facility.

It’s important to note that the source of the PFAS has not yet been determined. We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation and are exploring all possibilities, including other potential sources in the area.

As a company committed to protecting this region, and in cooperation with both MDE and the Wicomico County Department of Health (WCDH), Perdue AgriBusiness is working with independent PFAS experts at Langan Engineering and Environmental Services to conduct this testing.

We are committed to protecting the communities in Maryland. Throughout this process, we will maintain transparent and timely communication, including through this webpage.

Well-testing area

Perdue AgriBusiness is working with experts from Langan Engineering and Environmental Services (Langan) to test the private well water of properties within the official testing zone. This includes the initial approximate half-mile radius recommended and established by the Maryland Department of Environment and the expanded area to the west of the Zion Church Road facility. In total, the testing area encompasses 811 homes.

Early testing revealed elevated levels of certain PFAS which led Perdue AgriBusiness, in conjunction with the MDE, to expand the initial testing zone to the west of the Zion Church Road facility. Notification letters were sent to homeowners within the expanded testing zone on November 5, 2024.

The yellow outline represents the radius around the Perdue AgriBusiness facility in which the company is offering free well testing to homes that use private wells.

To determine if your property is located within the designated testing zone, please enter your full address in the search bar below.

Progress update & timeline

This is the current status of our well water sampling and testing efforts in the MDE-designated zones around our facility in Salisbury, Maryland.

Testing is underway. We have sent letters to all property owners within the designated testing zones, received completed questionnaires from roughly 400 residents and conducted well water sampling and testing at nearly 50% of the properties within the original testing area. We are now conducting testing to help determine if PFAS exist in the water and, if so, the nature and extent of such chemicals.
Perdue AgriBusiness and MDE have expanded the testing radius. Early results detected elevated levels of certain PFAS above the EPA’s drinking water standard and led to the joint decision by MDE and Perdue AgriBusiness to expand the testing zone to the west of the Zion Church Road facility in accordance with testing data. This area includes 261 more homes. The total testing zone can be seen in the map above. Notification letters were sent to property owners within the expanded testing zone on November 5, 2024.
Water treatment filters are being installed. On November 4, 2024, our experts began installing point-of-entry treatment systems to treat the drinking water for PFAS at properties with elevated levels of PFAS above EPA limits for drinking water. Perdue AgriBusiness is installing systems at those properties within the designated testing zone at no cost to homeowners.
Results are being mailed to property owners who consented to well water testing as soon as they become available.
Please promptly fill out and return the questionnaire you received in the mail if you have not already done so. To fill out the questionnaire online, please use this link. You may also use the self-addressed, stamped envelope you received in the mail.

Testing results & next steps

Test results will determine the presence and levels of six PFAS compounds that are regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in public drinking water.

Because PFAS are commonly occurring chemicals, the tests check for instances where the presence of chemicals exceeds the levels that the EPA has established for public drinking water. There are three potential outcomes for the test results. Below, we’ve indicated what each outcome means and your next steps.

No PFAS Detected: If your property’s groundwater does not show elevated levels of PFAS, no further actions are planned at this time.
PFAS Detected: If your property’s groundwater shows that PFAS are present, but levels do not exceed the EPA’s standards for public drinking water, follow-up sampling is recommended and will be independently conducted by Langan. Langan will contact you in the coming weeks to inquire about, and arrange for, follow-up sampling.
Elevated PFAS Levels Detected: If your property’s groundwater does show elevated levels of PFAS that exceed the EPA’s standards for public drinking water, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) recommends that homeowners install treatment devices on any outlets from which they will be drinking water. Perdue AgriBusiness is offering to install treatment systems to treat the drinking water supply for PFAS, where appropriate, at no cost to property owners or occupants. Perdue AgriBusiness will contact you with additional details regarding potential treatment options, including a point-of-entry treatment system.

PFAS Water Sampling, Testing and Treatment Process Explained HERE

Frequently asked questions

We understand you may have questions about this effort. We are committed to maintaining transparent and timely communication with our neighbors through this process. Below is a list of frequently asked questions. For additional information, please contact Perdue AgriBusiness through this form.

Which properties are getting their water tested?

As part of this effort, we are testing the private well water of properties within the radius recommended by and established in conjunction with the Maryland Department of Environment. This includes properties within the original radius as well as additional properties to the west of the Zion Church Road facility. Please refer to the map above to view the official testing area.

Why was the testing area expanded?

Some of the early test results detected elevated levels of certain PFAS and led to our decision, together with the MDE, to expand the radius to the west of the Zion Church Road facility. Perdue AgriBusiness will continue to follow MDE’s guidance around well water sampling and testing.

Independent PFAS consultants from Langan are actively reviewing and evaluating preliminary results with MDE as they become available.

How can I schedule a well water test?

Please use this link to complete the online questionnaire. Our experts from Langan Engineering and Environmental Services (Langan) will contact you to select a convenient time and date to collect a sample.

When will someone come to collect a water sample at my property?

Langan is working to collect samples as quickly and effectively as possible. Every property within the prescribed radius that completes the questionnaire and consents to testing will be contacted to schedule well water sampling.

Can I get my water tested if I don’t live within the testing area?

Perdue AgriBusiness is currently testing the private well water of properties within the official radius jointly established by the MDE and Perdue AgriBusiness. These tests are designed to determine if PFAS exist in the area groundwater, and if so, the nature and extent of such chemicals.

When will I get the results of my water sample?

Test results will be mailed to property owners within one to three weeks of the samples being collected.

If elevated PFAS levels are detected in my water, what will happen?

Perdue AgriBusiness is installing treatment systems to treat the drinking water supply for PFAS, where appropriate, at no cost to property owners or occupants. Langan will contact property owners with additional details regarding the installation of a point-of-entry treatment system.

How can I get bottled water delivered to my home?

Perdue AgriBusiness is providing free bottled water to properties within the testing area throughout this process. To request bottled water, please call 866-866-3703 or send us a message here.

What are PFAS chemicals?

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The term encompasses thousands of man-made substances that have been in widespread use for decades and can be found in many different consumer, commercial, and industrial products. They have also been found in water, air, fish, and soil at many locations throughout the country.

Where did the PFAS come from?

The source of PFAS in groundwater at the Perdue AgriBusiness facility has yet to be determined. We are committed to conducting a thorough review and are looking closely at all possibilities for the elevated PFAS levels, including other potential sources in the area.

What health impacts do PFAS have?

Information about the effects of PFAS, including potential health risks, is available from the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Resources

Additional information on PFAS is available through The Maryland Department of the Environment and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

PFAS in Maryland (MDE)

Learn More

PFAS in Drinking Wells (MDE)

Learn More

PFAS Impact (EPA)

Learn More

Contact

We are committed to protecting the communities in Maryland. Throughout this process, we will maintain transparent and timely communication, including through this webpage. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.