News Releases from Region 05

EPA installs monitoring wells at the Kokomo Contaminated Groundwater Plume Superfund site

For Immediate Release No. 20-OPA-019

KOKOMO, Ind. (Oct. 29, 2020) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun installing groundwater monitoring wells at the Kokomo Contaminated Groundwater Plume Superfund site.  EPA will be working at 2 locations to install a total of 6 groundwater monitoring wells with additional wells to be installed in 2021. Residents may observe EPA personnel and contractors performing these or related operations.

The monitoring well installation is a preliminary step towards addressing the groundwater plume at the site.  EPA will use the data from the wells to be installed this fall to determine where to install additional monitoring wells in order to define the extent of the groundwater plume. The monitoring wells will be installed on Sycamore Street and at the intersection of Markland Avenue and S Calumet Street.

The Kokomo Groundwater Plume is contaminated with chlorinated solvents and arsenic. Low levels of contaminants have been found in raw, untreated water at several of Kokomo’s drinking water wells. Kokomo’s drinking water is produced by the Indiana American Water Company, which treats the water to ensure that residents are receiving water that meets all federal drinking water standards.

As the project moves forward, EPA will share information with the community. If you would like to receive updates, please contact: Kirstin Safakas, (312) 886-6015, Safakas.Kirstin@epa.gov

After the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) referred the site to EPA, the Kokomo Groundwater Site was placed on EPA’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 2016.

For more information: www.epa.gov/superfund/kokomo-groundwater

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