More Cascade Homeowners Warned of Chemicals in Water, Urged To Leave Private Wells

For some Kent County residents, turning on the tap now comes with a question. Not about pressure or taste, but about what you can’t see.

The state has expanded its PFAS investigation in Cascade Township, adding more homes to the testing area after well samples revealed contamination in places that had not previously been checked.

PFAS, often referred to as forever chemicals, do not easily break down and they have been linked to multiple health risks. And now, more neighbors are being told their wells need testing to make sure these chemicals aren’t in their water.

A state representative confirmed that homes on Thorncrest Drive are now a part of the Aspenwood Drive area of interest that was first discussed in December. An area of interest is where the state conducts PFAS testing to determine how far contamination may have spread.

For residents who thought they were outside the concern zone, this expansion feels a little unsettling. It has also reignited a familiar question. Why are some streets still on private wells while surrounding neighborhoods have access to city water?

According to Cascade Township, homes using private wells are typically located outside the utility service boundary, meaning municipal water is not currently available to them. Township ordinances allow homeowners to continue using private wells unless major repairs are needed. At that point, if municipal water is accessible, they must connect.

Township officials also say they are actively working to expand municipal water access in affected areas in response to PFAS contamination.

Representatives from several state departments, including the PFAS response team, will host a community meeting on February 19 at 6 pm inside the Wisner Center. The meeting will focus on ongoing state funded PFAS sampling, and residents will have the opportunity to ask questions directly.

And as testing expands across Cascade Township, more Kent County residents are finding themselves checking to make sure they won’t be effected in the future as well.