The drinking water supply for a town in south-central Missouri has been placed on the Superfund National Priorities List over concerns about a chemical found in its wells, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Monday.
The EPA said tetrachloroethylene has been detected in wells at Vienna in Maries County at levels periodically exceeding federal standards since 2006. The wells provide water to the community of a little more than 600 residents.
The EPA first wants to confirm the source and extent of contamination. Once that investigation is complete, it will develop a remedy plan that will be outlined to city officials and residents through a series of public meetings.
Tetrachloroethylene is a manufactured chemical used for dry cleaning and metal degreasing. Exposure to high concentrations can cause dizziness, headaches, sleepiness, confusion, nausea, difficulty in speaking and walking, unconsciousness and even death, according to the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
The Department of Health and Human Services has determined that tetrachloroethylene may also cause cancer. It has been shown to cause liver tumors in mice and kidney tumors in male rats.
Following an investigation about three years ago, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources determined that a shuttered hat factory was likely to blame. The Langenberg Hat Factory closed in 1996 after 44 years of operation, but the old plant remains.
Shon Westart, water superintendent in Vienna, said several public meetings have taken place and no one has blamed an illness on the water. Still, he's happy the EPA is taking action.
"I think they're paying attention to us, so it's a good thing they're concerned about it," Westart said. The attention may have also helped the town secure $1.1 million in federal stimulus funds to help pay for a new $2.8 million water treatment plant expected to be built and operating by late next year.
EPA officials said placement on the National Priorities List designates the Vienna site as a high priority for cleanup, a move that could bring in more federal money.
"Now, we can spend money from this pot called the Superfund program to find a remedy for the problem," EPA project manager Hoai Tran said.
