EPA Unveils System to Treat Contaminated Groundwater in New York

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled a treatment system that will remove contaminants from groundwater near the Lawrence Aviation Inc. Superfund site in Port Jefferson, N.Y.

The treatment system, the second EPA has installed to clean up contaminated ground water from the Lawrence Aviation site, is housed in a building in Port Jefferson, N.Y., about one mile away from the Lawrence Aviation property. The groundwater near the site is contaminated with volatile organic compounds, potentially harmful chemicals that were used and disposed of at the site.

The system will pump contaminated groundwater from nearby wells and filter out sediments and debris. The water will then be sent through a device that blows air into the water to remove some of the volatile organic compounds. The air and water then flow into carbon filters, where contaminants are collected and absorbed. Clean water will be released into the Old Mill Pond and Creek.

EPA broke ground on the treatment system facility in October 2010 and worked closely with local officials on the facility’s design. A local architectural firm assisted with the design of the facility and EPA purchased some of the materials for the facility from local suppliers. The system will be operating for about 20 years in order to bring levels of volatile organic compounds to an acceptable level for protecting human health and the environment.

The cost of the treatment system is approximately $ 2 million and has been paid for by the Superfund. EPA is seeking to recover some of its costs from Lawrence Aviation Industries and its owner.

Source: EPA