(Kansas City, Kan., May 23, 2011) - E.P.A. staff and contractors will be continuing work near Rogersville, Mo., this week to conduct sampling efforts at private drinking water wells in the vicinity of the Compass Plaza commercial development, as part of a continuing investigation into trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination of groundwater.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) detected the chemical solvent TCE in water samples from 2 non-community wells and one irrigation well in the area in March 2010. Subsequently, MDNR, E.P.A. and Greene Co. Resource Management sampled 210 additional wells, and found detectable concentrations of TCE in 13 wells, including 5 wells where TCE was detected at levels above the maximum contaminant level of five parts per billion.
E.P.A. staff and contractors will be working in the area to offer sampling of private drinking water wells at no charge to property owners. Well owners may be approached by E.P.A. representatives to inquire about their interest in sampling, or owners may contact E.P.A. to request sampling.
Property owners wanting their wells to be sampled should contact Doug Ferguson at E.P.A. Region seven to arrange a date and time for sampling to occur. He can be reached at 1-800-223-0425 or 913-551-7221, or at
[email protected]. Owners are asked to have details of a well's construction, including well depth, casing depth, pump depth, and construction date, available.
If TCE is detected in a private well, E.P.A. will install a treatment system at no cost to the property owner. In August 2010, E.P.A. installed treatment systems at the 5 private residences where TCE was detected at levels above five parts per billion, all at no cost to the owners.
So far, the investigation has not been able to determine how long TCE contamination has been present in area groundwater. Meanwhile, response actions - including well testing and the installation of treatment systems - are being conducted to address the potential for exposure to TCE and to determine the source of the contamination.
TCE is a colorless manufactured liquid that does not occur naturally in the environment. Long-term exposure to TCE at elevated levels is suspected of causing cancer, as well as liver problems and weakening of the immune system.
