Zellwood Ground Water Contamination

Overview

The Zellwood Ground Water Contamination site covers 57 acres in Zellwood, Orange County, Florida. Industrial operations beginning in the early 1960s left behind contaminated soil, sediment, and groundwater. The site was added to the National Priorities List (NPL) in September 1983. It remains on the NPL but has achieved sitewide ready for anticipated reuse status as of November 2022.

More than 80 contaminants of concern have been identified at the site. These include metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and chromium. Pesticides like DDT, dieldrin, and chlordane were found, along with solvents, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, ammonia, cyanide, and nitrates. Contamination affects soil, sediment, groundwater, and surface water. The primary exposure route is drinking contaminated groundwater.

Three former industrial operators contributed to the contamination. Drum Service Company ran a drum recycling facility with unlined wastewater ponds starting in 1963. Southern Liquid Fertilizer Company and later Douglas Fertilizer and Chemical Company discharged wastewater into unlined lagoons. Zellwin Farms Company operated a vegetable washing plant from 1960 to 1983 and discharged wastewater into drainage ditches. Cleanup addressed two operable units. For soil and sediment, responsible parties excavated 7,000 cubic yards of contaminated material in 1994, solidified it into a concrete monolith, and covered it with soil and grass. For groundwater, the current remedy uses monitored natural attenuation along with institutional controls such as groundwater use advisories and zoning restrictions that limit land use to industrial and agricultural activities. Physical construction of cleanup finished in September 2003.

Contaminant levels in most monitoring wells are declining or stable since monitoring began in 2002. A few wells showed increases, prompting additional EPA investigation. In August 2024, an Explanation of Significant Differences was issued indicating a change to the groundwater cleanup or performance standard. The EPA also issued updated cleanup levels for groundwater contaminants in 2024. Current work includes evaluating volatile organic compounds found on and off the site, assessing whether a vapor intrusion study is needed, and updating the site monitoring plan. All four EPA performance measures show the site is under control, with no unacceptable human exposure pathways identified and groundwater migration stabilized. A five-year review is estimated between July and September 2026.

Community members can get involved through public notices, public meetings, and interviews that the EPA holds throughout the cleanup process. Site records are available for public review at Zellwood Elementary School at 3551 Washington Street in Zellwood, Florida. Residents can also contact site staff directly with questions or concerns.