Agencies
Services
Fact Sheet 8c April 1996
Source Areas 9, 10, and 11 Limited Environmental Investigation
Southeast Rockford Groundwater Contamination
Rockford, Illinois
Winnebago County
Within the next several weeks, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) will collect soil and soil gas (air beneath ground surface) samples in Areas 9, 10, and 11 of the Southeast Rockford Groundwater Contamination project.
Why is the Illinois EPA conducting this work?
Within the past four years, the Illinois EPA has been investigating possible sources of industrial solvents found in southeast Rockford private wells and one municipal well. This investigation has shown that Areas 9, 10, and 11 & two other areas are major sources of the groundwater (water beneath ground surface) contamination.
In 1991, the Illinois EPA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) connected all eligible homes and businesses with private wells that violated public water supply standards to the Rockford Public Water Supply. In 1995, the Illinois EPA and the U.S. EPA proposed, and the public agreed to a twopart remedy for the contaminated groundwater.
First, residences and businesses with drinking water wells that may be affected by the contamination within the next 70 years will be connected to the City of Rockford water supply. Second, remedies for the sources will be selected (after public comment) to prevent or minimize ongoing releases of contamination to the groundwater.
The Illinois EPA has results from samples previously taken in Areas 9, 10, and 11 but needs additional information before proposing remedies for these areas. The upcoming sampling will provide that information by more precisely determining the location of contamination in Areas 9, 10, and 11.
Is the Rockford Public Water Supply safe to drink?
Yes. The Rockford Public Water Supply is regularly tested for the solvents found in groundwater, and water that violates public water supply standards is not distributed to the public.
What happens after the Illinois EPA completes their investigations?
If funding is available, the Illinois EPA and U.S. EPA will complete a study of remedies and propose, for public comment, remedies for Areas 9, 10, and 11 as well as two other source areas.
When will the Illinois EPA and U.S. EPA propose a remedy for the source of contamination in Areas 9, 10, and 11?
The schedule for Areas 9, 10, and 11 remedies is dependent upon funding. Currently, this project is funded by the federal Superfund program, and the federal law authorizing the collection of funds for this program expired December 31, 1995. There are sufficient funds to conduct the present investigation, but there may be no new funds to write a report describing investigation results or to complete a study of remedies until Congress reauthorizes the Superfund program.
Are there other ways of funding a study of remedies and the construction of remedies?
Yes. U.S. EPA, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Illinois EPA, and the Illinois Office of the Attorney General are negotiating with parties considered responsible for the contamination. If these negotiations are successful, the responsible parties may pay for the next steps. If the negotiations are unsuccessful, the work will be funded by federal funds when those funds are available. If federal funds are used, U.S. EPA may elect to recover costs from responsible parties when work is complete.
Who are the responsible parties?
In 1992, based upon responses to requests for information, U.S. EPA notified seven companies of their potential liability for the Southeast Rockford Groundwater Contamination project. U.S. EPA also demanded reimbursement for funds spent thus far on the site.
Repositories and Administrative Record
More information on the Southeast Rockford Groundwater Contamination may be found in project repositories located at the Rockford Public Library and the Ken-Rock Community Center.
Technical Assistance Grants
Citizen groups desiring technical assistance in interpreting data from this investigation may be eligible for a Technical Assistance Grant (TAG). Municipalities, other governmental agencies, political subdivisions, potentially responsible parties, academic institutions and headquarters of public interest groups are not eligible to receive TAGS. However, members of these groups may belong to a community organization requesting a TAG.
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.