Department of Ecology News Release - June 19, 2000 00-111 Well-drilling alert south of Chehalis OLYMPIA - Well drillers are advised to proceed with caution before drilling wells near the intersection of Forest Napavine Road East and Jackson Highway south of the city of Chehalis. The state Department of Ecology (Ecology) and Lewis County are concerned about the potential for spreading toxic contamination among underground aquifers in the area. Panjini Balaraju of Ecology's toxic cleanup program, said, "We already know the shallow aquifer is contaminated. Our tests show the deep aquifer is still clean and any new well-drilling activity could create a path to contaminate it, because the contaminants are heavier than water and will sink if given the opportunity." Preliminary test results show the shallow ground-water aquifer is contaminated with tetrachloroethylene (also known as perchloroethylene or PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE) and 1,4-Dichlorobenzene. All are suspected human carcinogens after long-term exposure. Initial testing of residential wells in the area in April and May found PCE and TCE in four private drinking-water wells, all within safe drinking-water levels. Two households whose well water showed low levels of the chemicals are now using bottled water. The other two wells showed a minimal detection of the chemicals. In addition, two public facilities tested showed drinking-water contamination. One is the well at the Lewis County Central Shop, which showed PCE at 290 parts per billion, TCE at 289 parts per billion and 1,4-Dichlorobenzene at 120 parts per billion. The drinking-water standard is five parts per billion for PCE and TCE and 75 parts per billion for 1,4-Dichlorobenzene. The other public well serving the Forest Grange showed minimal detects of contamination at levels within drinking-water standards. Well drillers could be held liable for cleanup costs of the deep aquifer. Plus, they run the risk of exposing workers to contaminated soil and water during drilling, Balaraju said. An advisory letter was mailed to area well drillers this week, he added. Ecology is providing technical assistance to Lewis County in field investigations on the property to identify the source of contamination and define the extent of the ground-water contamination. Well drillers can call Ecology for more information. Contact Igor Vern at 360-407-0281 or Panjini Balaraju at 360-407-6243. ### For more information or a map of the area contact Sandy Howard, public information manager, at 360-407-6239. Department of Ecology Web site - www.ecy.wa.gov/
This page created and maintained by Chehalis River Council
Send comments or questions to the: Chehalis River Council