Agency will be joined by U.S. EPA and Delaware Division of Public Health at Hockessin Memorial Hall

DOVER (June 14, 2017) – Representatives from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) will update the public about the contaminated Hockessin Ground Water Plume Site. The update will be held at the monthly meeting of the Greater Hockessin Area Development Association (GHADA) set for 7 p.m., June 19 at Hockessin Memorial Hall, 610 Yorklyn Road, Hockessin, DE 19707.

DNREC and EPA have been investigating contamination from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in some ground water wells which supply the Hockessin area’s drinking water. Public drinking water in the area is provided by Artesian Water Company, and is treated to remove VOCs. The finished drinking water continues to meet federal and state safe drinking water standards, according to Artesian’s annual water quality reports.

The primary ground water contaminant of concern in the Hockessin area is tetrachloroethylene (PCE), most commonly used as a dry-cleaning solvent and industrial degreaser. PCE, a VOC which can cause adverse human health effects, was identified in a commercial irrigation well, three residential wells, and several public supply wells in the Artesian Water Company’s Hockessin well field. DNREC installed water treatment systems at the three residential properties impacted by the VOC contamination.

The sources of the ground water contamination have not been fully determined. DNREC has worked with several potential responsible parties, and has completed numerous environmental investigations and remedial efforts at sites of potential concern. Subsequently, DNREC has requested additional assistance from the EPA to help fully investigate the area, and identify the sources of the VOC contamination in ground water.

At the meeting, DNREC and the EPA will provide information on ground water well testing results for residential properties, along with 2016-2017 environmental assessment work completed by EPA on ground water contamination in the area. The EPA is using its Superfund authority and resources to determine if the site warrants further long-term investigation and cleanup. EPA’s investigations also could result in the site being listed on the National Priorities List, the list of sites eligible for remedial action financed under the federal Superfund program. DNREC, DPH, Artesian and EPA representatives will be available to answer questions.

For more information regarding the Hockessin Ground Water Plume Site, please visit: http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/dwhs/SIRB/Pages/Hockessin-Ground-Water-Plume-Site.aspx, or contact:

Timothy Ratsep, Administrator; Paul Will, Program Manager; or Christina Wirtz, Outreach Ombudsman
DNREC Site Investigation and Restoration Section; 302-395-2600
Email: Timothy.Ratsep@delaware.gov; Paul.Will@delaware.gov; or Christina.Wirtz@delaware.gov

Media Contact: Melanie H. Rapp, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902; Melanie.Rapp@delaware.gov

Public information meeting set for Nov. 17 at UD’s Clayton Hall

DOVER – Following nearly two decades of successful efforts by the City of Newark, DNREC and the Division of Public Health Office of Drinking Water (DPH ODW) to maintain a safe drinking water supply for the city, DNREC is requesting federal assistance from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in resolving groundwater concerns in the Newark area and determining the sources of contamination there.

State officials from DNREC and DPH ODW, along with representatives of the City of Newark, with support from the EPA, will hold a public informational meeting Thursday, Nov. 17 about the Newark South Groundwater Plume Site, which encompasses an area of southeast Newark along Route 72 between Interstate 95 and Route 4 (East Chestnut Hill Road) in New Castle County. The meeting will take place from 6 – 8 p.m. at the University of Delaware’s Clayton Hall Auditorium 125, located at 100 Hollowell Drive, Newark, DE 19716.

The City of Newark has six municipal wells located in the area where groundwater has been impacted by volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are organic compounds found in some industrial and commercial products that can cause adverse human health effects. Newark’s drinking water is treated by the city to remove VOCs from the water supply, enabling the water to continue meeting both federal and the more stringent state safe drinking water standards.

The source of the groundwater contamination has not been identified, despite numerous environmental investigations and remedial efforts by DNREC at sites of potential concern. DNREC subsequently has requested EPA’s assistance to help fully investigate the site and identify the sources of the VOCs contamination in the groundwater.

The public information meeting offers an opportunity for DNREC, DPH ODW, EPA and City of Newark representatives to discuss with the community, the upcoming investigation work by EPA on groundwater contamination in the area. The EPA will use Superfund authority and resources to determine if the site warrants further long-term investigation and cleanup. EPA’s investigations could result in the site’s being listed on the National Priorities List (NPL).

A brief presentation of the site’s history will be given by DNREC’s Site Investigation & Restoration Section while Newark officials will discuss the ongoing, successful treatment of the public water supply at the city’s South Well Field Treatment Plant, which ensures Newark’s drinking water meets all primary and secondary maximum contaminant levels specified by the Safe Drinking Water Act and DPH’s Office of Drinking Water. Representatives will be available after the presentation at information stations to answer questions.

For more information regarding the City of Newark’s South Well Field Treatment Plant and municipal water supply, please contact:

Tom Coleman, Director of Public Works and Water Resources, or
Mark Neimeister, Water Operations Superintendent
City of Newark
302-366-7000
www.cityofnewarkde.us

For more information regarding the public information session and the proposed investigations at the Newark South Groundwater Plume Site, please contact:

Timothy Ratsep, Administrator, or
Christina Wirtz, Outreach Ombudsman
DNREC Site Investigation and Restoration Section
302-395-2600
Email: Timothy.Ratsep@delaware.gov or Christina.Wirtz@delaware.gov

Vol. 46, No. 395

Media Contact: Melanie Rapp, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902