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Gem Cleaners

McHenry, Illinois
McHenry County

The subject property is located on the east side of the Fox River in McHenry on Elm Street (Route 120). Gem Cleaners occupied the site from 1970 to 1977, after which it was occupied by carpet dealers, an automotive repair facility, and a tire store. The property is approximately 1/3 of an acre on which a 4,782 square-foot building is currently a car rental business. The property is located in a mixed industrial, commercial and residential area.

Parts of the area are incorporated, and some are not. Currently, the public water supply is only available to some properties along Route 120, where there is a water main in place. Most of the homes and businesses use private wells for their water source.

Historic use of solvents at this location has resulted in contamination of the soil and groundwater by volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These are common chemicals found in industrial and commercial solvents. Soil contamination appears to be associated with a former septic field and another spill area on-site. Groundwater contamination appears to extend beyond the property boundaries. The Fox River is located approximately 1,100 feet west of the site. The consultant for the site owner is currently determining the rate and extent of the groundwater contamination.

Contact

For more information, please contact the Illinois EPA Office of Community Relations. Additional documents not available on this webpage may be obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request or through IEPA Document Explorer.