Chandler tests wells for tainted water

Chandler is testing a pair of wells to determine if drinking water for some residents is contaminated with toxins from a nearby industrial park.

City officials plan to meet with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency next week to discuss potential threats posed by a contaminated area on the Gila River Indian Community.

“We’re doing this as a precautionary measure but we don’t have any reason to believe that there’s an imminent threat,” said Jim Phipps, a spokesman for Chandler. Tests on the wells in the southwest part of Chandler are expected to be completed by the end of the week. A regular examination of the wells conducted in August did not turn up toxins, Phipps said.

Traces of industrial solvent trichloroethylene, or TCE, a toxic colorless liquid used for cleaning metal parts, were recently discovered in wells in the Lone Butte Industrial Park on tribal land just south of Chandler.

Preliminary EPA tests showed the levels of TCE were below federal guidelines for acceptable drinking standards, said John Moody, a spokesman for the EPA.

However, after the EPA alerted Phoenix of the polluted area about 45 days ago, it shut down two wells in nearby Ahwatukee Foothills.

Although no traces of TCE were found, the wells will remain closed as a precautionary measure until the contaminated area is cleaned up, said David Cerull, a spokesman for the Phoenix Water Service Department. The closure will not disrupt water service, he added.

Moody said the source of the contamination comes from at least one company operating in the Lone Butte Industrial Park, an area that houses more than 40 industrial companies employing more than 2,000 workers.

Among the companies operating at the park is Romic Environmental Technologies, a controversial hazardous waste firm that reached a $97,000 settlement on Thursday with the EPA for violating federal environmental laws.

The fine comes after the EPA decided in August to effectively shut down the plant by refusing to grant it a permanent use permit.

During the summer, the Tribal Council decided not to sign an application for a permanent license to handle hazardous waste. The council’s signature is required by federal law because the community owns the land Romic operates on. Calls to the Gila River community were not returned.

Over the years, there has been growing pressure from residents to remove the company over public health concerns. There have been a number of incidents at the facility that led to the release of hazardous vapors.

However, it is unknown if Romic is responsible for the contamination, Moody said. “Right now, Romic could be, but there’s no way we can know that yet,” Moody said.

Once more environmental data becomes available toward the end of October, Moody said he will be able to get a better idea of which company is responsible for the pollution.

At first glance, he thinks the area was first contaminated with TCE between 20 and 30 years ago because the solvent is rarely used today.

Short-term TCE exposure can cause nausea, dizziness, and headaches. Over a long period, it can lead to more serious health problems, including kidney, nerve and liver damage.

EPA officials said they became aware of the contamination about a year ago after they were told by environmental experts working for the Gila River community.

During the past year, the EPA has worked with state and tribal officials and conducted numerous tests. But it’s still unclear whether the TCE is spreading.