Trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) contaminate the Kittatinny Limestone Aquifer beneath Pohatcong Valley in Warren County, New Jersey. The contamination affects drinking water sources across Washington Borough, Washington Township, Franklin Township, and Greenwich Township. Two plumes stretch roughly 10 miles long and 1.5 miles wide. The site was added to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1989 and remains on it today. Beyond TCE and PCE, EPA has identified 22 total contaminants of concern, including metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and nickel found in groundwater and soil.
The site is divided into three operable units (OUs). OU1 covers about 5,600 acres and addresses TCE and PCE in groundwater using extraction, treatment, and reinjection systems that began running in 2016. The TCE system pulls 500 gallons per minute and the PCE system pulls 50 gallons per minute. OU2 covers a 4,200-acre downgradient area and shifted to operation and maintenance in September 2022, relying on monitored natural attenuation and institutional controls. OU3 targets soil contamination at the former American National Can facility and uses soil vapor extraction, sub-slab depressurization, and thermal treatment. A Classification Exemption Area restricts groundwater use across both OU1 and OU2. A 2015 settlement with multiple companies, including Albea Americas Inc., funds cleanup activities under EPA oversight.
Protective measures for residents started early. Bottled water was supplied in the mid-1980s, and public water connections began in 1988. A waterline serving 280 homes was completed in December 2020. Point of Entry Treatment Systems using activated carbon were installed at roughly 80 private wells where contamination exceeded standards. EPA assessed vapor intrusion risk in 2007 and installed vapor intrusion systems in one school, one residence, and one apartment building. At the former American National Can building, soil vapor extraction and sub-slab depressurization have reduced TCE concentrations to safe levels. EPA has determined that human exposure is under control and that physical construction is complete.
Physical construction wrapped up on March 24, 2023, and the site reached sitewide ready for anticipated reuse on March 31, 2023. Long-term response actions for OU1 are estimated to continue through early 2027, followed by ongoing operation and maintenance. A five-year review for the entire site is estimated between March and May 2028. Four businesses currently operate on or near the site, employing 259 people and generating about $58.9 million in annual sales.
Community members with questions can contact the Community Involvement Coordinator. Site records are available at the Warren County Health Department in Oxford, New Jersey and at the EPA Region 2 Records Center in New York.
