Batavia Groundwater Contamination Study

Batavia Groundwater Contamination Study

Fact Sheet #3
July 1998

Batavia, Illinois

Background

As previously reported in Fact Sheet #2, 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 contaminated 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 is known as the Batavia Groundwater Contamination Site (“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.

In April 1998 a legal notice was sent to four businesses within the Site giving them the opportunity to conduct the portion of the investigation planned for their own property. Each of them has declined that opportunity. Therefore the Illinois EPA contractor who conducted the 1997 portion of the investigation will proceed with the next phase of work.

Next Steps

The investigation will take approximately four weeks and will begin in early July. It will include collection and analysis of water and soil samples and other tests in an effort to locate the sources) of contamination affecting the groundwater.

Noteworthy Facts

• 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 nearby public water supply wells will continue to be monitored every three months to assure they have not been affected.

For Aditional 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: