Batavia Groundwater Contamination Study

Batavia Groundwater Contamination Study

Fact Sheet #2
March 1998

Batavia, Illinois

Background

In 1996, routine water sampling by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) identified groundwater contamination in several semi-private and non-community public water supply wells in Batavia, Illinois. Subsequent extensive investigation by the Illinois EPA and IDPH has defined the area where groundwater contamination with Vinyl Chloride and other volatile organic contaminants (VOCs) has been detected. The surface area overlying the contaminated groundwater is roughly bounded by the Fox River on the West, Laurel Street on the North, Illinois Route 25 on the East and Bond Drive on the South and has been designated the Batavia Groundwater Contamination Site (Site).

The investigation performed by the Illinois EPA in 1997 indicates that contamination exists in portions of both the "deep" aquifer (700 ft.) which is used for public water supply and the "shallow" aquifer (200 ft.) used for private wells. The municipal public water supply wells located nearest to the site are approximately 2/3 mile (3,500 feet) away from the contaminated portion of the site. The municipal water supply wells and numerous private wells, in and surrounding the site, have been tested. No contamination has been found in any well currently used for drinking water.

The locations and depths at which contamination was detected vary considerably, and it is not continuous throughout the site. There may be two or more sources of contamination, but the exact location of those sources has not been identified. The source of the contamination affecting wells at the Montessori School appears to be near the north end of the site. Another source of contamination affecting wells or soil samples at Batavia Concrete, Eagle Concrete and Funway appears to be located at or close to one of those facilities. There is a large area with no detectable contamination between these two affected areas.

Next Steps

Additional investigation will be necessary to find the sources of contamination affecting the groundwater in the various areas of the site. A Work Plan has been prepared which divides the investigation into several separate areas within the site. That Work Plan will be sent to the property owners and they will be given an opportunity to perform the work at their own expense. The Illinois EPA will perform the balance of the investigation. This second phase of investigation should take place this spring and summer. During this investigation monitoring wells will be installed and sampled, and soil samples will be collected and analyzed.

Additional Fact Sheets will be issued as Illinois EPA obtains more information from the investigation process.

Some Important Points

• The Montessori School will continue to use bottled water as they have since before the problem was detected.
  
  
• Batavia Concrete, Eagle Concrete, and Funway will continue to use water from the municipal water supply.
  
  
• The potentially affected public water supply wells will be sampled and analyzed every 90 days

For Additional Information

A Repository of documents relevant to this site, including additional copies of all site Fact Sheets, has been established at the Batavia Public Library, at 335 West Wilson (879-1393). As reports on the investigation and its results are completed, they will be added to the Repository.

Please feel free to direct your questions to any of the following: