Linemaster Switch Corp.

Overview

The Linemaster Switch Corp. site covers 45 acres in Woodstock, Connecticut. The facility has made electrical and pneumatic switches since 1952. From 1969 through 1979, the facility discharged TCE (trichloroethylene) and other chemicals into an on-site dry well at a rate of 20 to 200 gallons per year. That practice contaminated groundwater, soil, and surface water. The site was added to EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990 and remains listed today.

Fifty chemical substances are contaminants of concern at the site. They include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, benzene, and chloroform. Heavy metals are also present, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and beryllium, along with chlorinated solvents, phthalates, and ketones. Contamination was found in groundwater, soil, and surface water across the entire site.

EPA began cleanup by supplying bottled water to affected residents and installing filtration on contaminated private wells. A remedy selected in 1993 included soil vapor extraction with carbon controls and groundwater extraction wells connected to an air stripper. The vapor extraction system was later shut down after operating successfully. A groundwater extraction and treatment system is still running. In 2012, a vapor mitigation system was installed at a nearby home to address vapor intrusion risk. Point-of-use treatment systems were also installed at two adjacent homes to ensure their drinking water meets standards. Current human exposures are under control, and the 2024 Five-Year Review confirmed the remedy protects human health and the environment in the short term.

In August 2025, EPA issued an updated cleanup plan estimated at $11.4 million. The new approach adds chemical oxidation injections to break down contaminants, new extraction wells to collect contaminated groundwater and stop its spread, and monitoring wells to track results. Design and construction are expected to take about two years, with additional remedial work estimated to begin between December 2026 and February 2028. The facility continues to operate, and two on-site businesses employed 176 people as of December 2024. Institutional controls, including zoning restrictions, are in place and will remain as long as contamination or cleanup equipment stays on site.

Community members can review site documents at Woodstock Town Hall or at the EPA Region 1 Records and Information Center in Boston. EPA holds public comment periods and meetings when major decisions are made. For questions, contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.