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EPA to Review Cleanup Progress at Kellogg-Deering Superfund Site

Release Date: 06/13/2002
Contact Information: Alice Kaufman, EPA Press Office at (617) 918-1064 Terry Connelly (617) 918-1373 [email protected] Pam Harting-Barrat (617) 918-1318 [email protected]

Boston -- -The United States Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it is undertaking a review of the effectiveness of soil and groundwater treatment remedies in place at the Kellogg-Deering Well Field Superfund Site located on Route 7 in Norwalk, Connecticut. Prior reviews were completed in 1992 and 1997.

In 1988, EPA constructed a treatment facility to remove solvents from the groundwater at the Norwalk First Taxing District (NFTD) municipal well field located west of the Norwalk River. Treated groundwater is discharged to a conventional water treatment plant and water distribution system to ensure the supply of safe potable water to the public. The NFTD Water Department is the owner of the facility and is responsible for on-going operations and maintenance of the treatment system for the well field portion of the site.

In 1996, a second treatment system was constructed to clean up contaminated soils and groundwater at the Elinco/Pitney Bowes/Matheis Court Complex on the east side of Main Avenue that were determined to be a source of contamination impacting the well field. That treatment system removes contamination from groundwater and soil vapors present in unsaturated soils and has shown to be effective in removing significant amounts of contamination from the groundwater. Operation and monitoring of the system continues.

This review, called a five-year review, is a comprehensive evaluation of the site remedy which will include:

• interviewing local officials and community members
• collecting information from local officials (zoning changes)
• checking the well field and Complex treatment systems to ensure that they are operating as designed and are being properly maintained
• assessing records and reports

The Kellogg-Deering Well Field site consists of an approximately 10-acre municipal well field and adjacent areas that contribute to the well field contamination. Groundwater sampling data indicated that a significant source of contamination exists below the Elinco/Pitney Bowes/ Matheis Court Complex located at the eastern edge of the site. The well field supplies approximately 10 percent of the drinking water to 80,000 residents in the City of Norwalk. The primary source of public water supply to the NFTD is surface water from four reservoirs. Reservoir water is blended with well field water at varying ratios, depending on reservoir storage and distribution system location. The well field is adjacent to residential and light industrial areas.

Public participation is encouraged and welcomed.

More information about cleanup activities at the Kellogg-Deering Well Field site may be found on the EPA New England web site at: https://www.epa.gov/region1/superfund.