2 Coast counties have some of the most contaminated tap water in MS, investigation shows

Mona Moore
·2 min read

Crystal and Tim Dotson suffered the five stages of grief after seeing test results for the quality of their tap water.

“It was almost as if a family member had been diagnosed with a terminal illness,” said Crystal Dotson. “We felt denial, anger, resentment and finally, determination to do something about it.”

As part of an investigation by Consumer Reports and Mississippi Spotlight, the Corinth, Mississippi, residents discovered their water was contaminated with the highest levels of PFAS of all the samples tested. The Dotson water sample contained a PFAS level of 92.5 ppt.

Also known as “forever chemicals,” Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a complex group of more than 3,000 man-made chemicals that have been used in products like non-stick cookware, stain resistant fabrics, cosmetics, firefighting foams and products that resist grease, water and oil, according to Blackstone Environmental.

The PFAS chemicals have one thing in common. All are hard to break down and can contaminate an environment for decades.

The investigation identified 10 counties with the highest detected levels of PFAS in Mississippi. The tests also identified arsenic and lead in all of the tested samples.

A ppt describes the level of contamination, with one ppt the equivalent of one drop of impurity in 500,000 barrels of water, according to the U.S. Navy.

Corinth is part of Alcorn County, the county with the highest level of water contamination in the state.

Here are the Mississippi counties with the highest level of contamination detected

  1. Alcorn: 93 ppt

  2. Carroll: 52 ppt

  3. Lamar: 47 ppt

  4. Harrison: 46 ppt

  5. Forrest: 44 ppt

  6. Holmes: 43 ppt

  7. Hancock: 21 ppt

  8. Hinds: 19 ppt

  9. Union: 17 ppt

  10. Pike: 17 ppt

The U.S. does not regulate PFAS levels, but the Environmental Protection Agency recently proposed a limit of 4 ppt for PFOS and PFOA, two common types of PFAS. The Dotsons’ tap water had a PFOS of 11 ppt and PFOA of 8 ppt.

The Dotson family identified a number of health issues since moving to their Corinth home five years ago.

“Tim has suffered recent bouts with kidney disease, cancer, and high blood pressure, the latter two of which have been linked to PFAS,” said Alex Rozier at Consumer Reports.

Crystal said she and Tim have had their gallbladders removed and their 17-year-old daughter developed an autoimmune disease and suffers from psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Their 13-year-old recently developed heart palpitations, a rapid heart beat and a fluctuating blood pressure.

Consumer Reports is calling for the EPA to finalize their proposed PFAS limits in drinking water and for the state to regularly test its water.

“The state and federal government must take action to protect families in Mississippi from the dangers of these toxic forever chemicals,” Crystal said. “Families shouldn’t have to worry the water they’re drinking from our tap at home is endangering our health.”