EPA considers Georgetown toxic groundwater for superfund cleanup list

Georgetown’s water is treated and safe to drink, officials say, but high levels of toxic chemicals remain in the groundwater, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.  

The agency says a square-mile plume of groundwater beneath East Laurel and Kimmey streets is contaminated by high concentrations of tetrachloroethylene, a dry-cleaning chemical.

Contamination at at least one of the sites was noted at least 35 years ago, and some efforts to clean the sites had been made in the decades that followed. Yet high levels of tetrachloroethylene in groundwater remain. 

It’s a health risk and may require long-term cleanup, the EPA says. The agency is proposing to add the site to the Superfund National Priority List, which would make it eligible for federal funds. 

Here’s what you need to know. 

What is tetrachloroethylene?  

Tetrachloroethylene is a colorless liquid with a sharp, sweet odor, used in dry-cleaning and metal degreasing operations, according to the the agency.  

In groundwater, it’s one of the most frequently detected industrial solvents in the country, the EPA says. 

The agency classifies it as “likely to be carcinogenic to humans,” and studies have found exposure to be associated with several types of cancer, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma and bladder cancer.