MUSKINGUM COUNTY
ZANESVILLE
Congressional District # 18
ZANESVILLE WELL FIELD
EPA ID# OHD980794598Last Updated: April, 2008
Site Description
The Zanesville Well Field Site (the site) is located on both sides of the Muskingum River in the center of the City of Zanesville, Ohio . The site contains the southern portion of the water well field for the City of Zanesville and the United Technologies Automotive, Inc (UTA) Facility, the source of the contamination. The Zanesville Municipal Well Field (ZMWF) covers approximately 72 acres and is on a narrow strip of flood plain on the east bank of the river. The UTA Facility lies on the west bank of the river directly across from the southern portion of the ZMWF. The UTA facility and grounds cover an area of approximately 28 acres between the river and Linden Avenue.
The property now occupied by UTA, has been used for manufacturing purposes since 1893, when American Encaustic Tiling Company, a ceramic products manufacturer, constructed the original buildings. The site has gone through several ownerships until 1974, when UTA acquired Essex Corporation. Residences are in close proximity to the UTA Facility; residential use of the property is a possible future use of the property, though UTA still operates and plans to continue operation at the facility. The southern portion of the ZMWF is currently not being used as a source of water. After the restoration of the groundwater, this area of the well field could once again be used as a source of water.
Due to the long history and varied usage of the site, many details of past waste storage and disposal practices are not available. However, it has been established that during American Encaustic's ownership of the site, a dug well 10 feet in diameter and 40 feet deep was installed. Over the years the dug well fell into disuse, and in the early 1970's the well was backfilled. Rubble from the demolition of a building, as well as up to 121 drums containing trichloroethylene (TCE) solvents were placed inside the well.
Evidence of TCE contamination at the ZMWF was first observed in July 1981, during a random spot check for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by the U.S. EPA. At that time TCE was detected in the plant tap at the water treatment plant. Three wells in the southern end of the well field were found to be contaminated with TCE and 1,2-dichlorethylene (DCE). In late 1981, the city of Zanesville was anonymously notified of the existence of the abandoned dug well on the UTA site, which reportedly contained drums of TCE based solvents. The abandoned well is approximately 900 feet west of the river and directly across the river from the southern portion of the ZMWF.
In September 1983 the site was placed on the National Priorities List (NPL). In August 1988 U.S. EPA, the Ohio EPA and UTA entered into an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) to perform a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS). The RI was completed in September 1990 and the FS approved in July 1991. A September 30, 1991, Record of Decision (ROD) documented the chosen remedial actions for the site.
Site Responsibility
This site is being addressed through federal, state, and potentially responsible party (PRP) actions.Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater and soil contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The soil also contains some heavy metals.Cleanup Progress
In July 1983 UTA installed a groundwater extraction and treatment system at the site consisting of four groundwater extraction wells and an air stripper as an Interim Remedial Measure (IRM) to address impacted groundwater. At the same time UTA removed over 121 drums and contaminated debris from the old well and closed it. A soil vapor extraction system was later implemented in 1985 to supplement the groundwater remediation system.
The RD Work Plan was approved on March 12, 1993. A series of Pre-Design Studies which included groundwater and soil sampling, pilot tests and contaminant transport modeling, were completed from May 1993 until November 1994. The Final Design Document was approved on October 18, 1995. Construction commenced on October 30, 1995.
The Inorganic Soil Removal Work Plan portion of the design presented the methodology for completing the inorganic soil excavation. The actual volume of soil excavated to achieve the inorganic soil clean-up criteria was approximately 1,880 cubic yards. Confirmation soil samples indicated that removal of inorganic impacted soils in excess of the soil clean-up criteria had been achieved.
The results of the Preliminary Pre-Design Data Report for the Organic Impacted Soils Investigation did not identify any new source area of VOCs. The only source areas identified were the Drum Storage Area and the northeast corner of the main building. As a result of this conclusion, a shallow SVE system was designed to focus on the Drum Storage Area and the northeast corner of the main building. The deep SVE system was designed to provide soil vapor extraction from the area of suspected deeper zone impacted soil and to provide for the extraction of vapors produced through operations of the air sparging system. Although not required in the ROD, UTA proposed air sparging (AS) as an enhancement to the required SVE system. An AS/SVE system was designed to remediate the organic impacted soils and groundwater. A total of 16 soil vapor extraction wells, five nested air sparging wells, 5,500 linear feet of conveyance piping and the AS/SVE equipment and equipment enclosure were constructed. The AS/SVE system was completed according to the technical specifications and design drawings presented in the Final Design. Based on the results of the AS/SVE Pilot Testing, the AS/SVE system is expected to achieve the clean-up standards.
The groundwater remediation system design was based on the results of groundwater modeling, groundwater sampling and analysis, the historical performance of the interim groundwater extraction and treatment system, and the results of the AS/SVE pilot test that was performed. The four existing groundwater extraction wells were incorporated into the final groundwater remediation system. The groundwater remediation system is expected to achieve the clean-up standards specified in the ROD. Projections suggested that the groundwater remediation will attain clean-up in 18 to 20 years.
The second five year review for the site was completed on September 27, 2006. The review concluded that the remedy remains protective of human health and the environment. A copy of the full report is available at http://www.epa.gov/region5/superfund/fiveyear/reviews_pdf/ohio/zanesville_well_field_oh.pdf .
Contacts
Remedial Project Manager, U.S. EPAjames hahnenberg (hahnenberg.james@epa.gov)
(312) 353-4213
Community Involvement Coordinator, U.S. EPA
rafael gonzalez
(312) 886-0269