Tests show chemicals abating at old landfill

The levels of several chemicals found in test wells at the old Alleghany County landfill have abated, according to test information provided by Alleghany County Manager Don Adams. Adams said the tests of the well that serves the current transfer facility showed no trace of chemical contamination. In addition, three other household wells also showed up negative. Test results for three other wells were not available as of presstime.

Adams said the results indicate that risks are lower for cancer and other health problems for anyone who consumed the water, but test results seem to indicate that the contaminants have not entered the ground water system in that area. In other words, the chemicals have apparently not entered the groundwater, which most wells draw from to supply homes in the area.

In March, the county commissioners learned that two of the county's four test wells at the old landfill had been contaminated by inorganic compounds (chemicals). The two contaminated wells were located on the southwestern and northwestern ends of the former landfill site.

The shallow test wells, which are about 40 feet deep, test surface ground water, not the water table, which is typically much deeper. The new data from the test wells indicates that some compounds had dropped to acceptable levels, while some had fallen below levels currently detectable on tests.

First Test Data Vs. New Data

Results from the first test were made available to all homeowners in the area.

The amounts and types of compounds found in the water samples were forwarded to the Division of Public Health's Epidemiology Section for evaluation. In a letter to Adams, state toxicologist Luanne K. Williams said that five different compounds were in levels exceeding those set forth by the state.

Get the rest of this article in this week's issue of the Alleghany News! Back