Endicott Village Well Field

Overview

The Endicott Village Well Field site sits in the Village of Endicott, New York, in Broome County. It centers on a 70-acre landfill that operated from the late 1950s until 1977. That landfill contaminated the Ranney Well, a municipal drinking water source serving roughly half of the village's 45,000 residents. The EPA detected vinyl chloride and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the well in 1981, and investigations confirmed the landfill as the source. The site was added to the National Priorities List (NPL), the federal roster of priority Superfund sites, in June 1986.

Over 190 chemical contaminants have been identified at the site. VOCs such as trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, benzene, vinyl chloride, and toluene appear in groundwater and soil. Pesticides including aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor, chlordane, and DDT compounds are present in soil and groundwater. Heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, and lead have also been detected. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), phthalate compounds, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons round out the contamination picture. The site is divided into three operable units addressing the municipal well area, the landfill study area, and an interim remedy zone.

Cleanup has moved through several major steps. An air stripper was installed at the Ranney Well in 1991 and has treated more than 5.7 billion gallons of contaminated groundwater by forcing air through water to strip out harmful chemicals. A supplemental purge well was added to intercept contaminants before they reach the Ranney Well. The landfill was capped in 1996 with a low-permeability barrier covering roughly 8,260,000 tons of waste, blocking rainwater from driving further contamination into soil and groundwater. Physical construction across the entire site was completed in September 1997.

The EPA completed its most recent five-year review in 2020 and found that cleanup actions protect public health and the environment. Human exposure is under control, with no unacceptable exposure pathways identified. Contaminated groundwater migration is stabilized, with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The site has also achieved sitewide ready for anticipated reuse status, meaning all cleanup goals for current and expected future land uses have been met and required controls are in place. The EPA will continue monitoring to confirm contaminated groundwater stays within the original area. A subsequent five-year review was completed in January 2026.

Community members with questions can contact the EPA staff assigned to the site. The Superfund Redevelopment Program is also working with the community to support the site's return to productive use. Five-year reviews are conducted on a regular schedule and provide an ongoing opportunity for the public to track cleanup progress and protectiveness findings.