The Pike and Mulberry Streets PCE Plume covers 38 acres in Martinsville, Indiana. The site was added to the National Priorities List (NPL) in May 2013. A contaminated groundwater plume, driven primarily by tetrachloroethylene (PCE), has affected one of the city's municipal drinking water wells, which serves about 15,000 people. A former dry cleaning business called Master Wear at 28 N. Main Street is among the possible contamination sources.
Six contaminants of concern have been identified at the site. Tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene appear in both groundwater and soil gas. Chloroethene (vinyl chloride) and cis-1,2-dichloroethene are found in groundwater. People can be exposed by ingesting or touching contaminated groundwater. EPA has determined that human exposure is currently under control, meaning no unacceptable exposure pathways exist at this time. The status of groundwater migration control remains uncertain due to gaps in data about how the plume is moving.
Since 2005, Martinsville has run an activated carbon filtration system to remove PCE from its drinking water. The city built a treatment plant with four 20,000-pound carbon filtration units. All water from the city's three wells passes through this system and is further treated before distribution. The city's Annual Drinking Water Quality Report states the water meets all federal and state requirements. Monitoring has shown that PCE levels in the groundwater continue to increase.
EPA issued a Record of Decision (ROD) in March 2021 selecting cleanup methods for the site. Those methods include monitored natural attenuation, vapor intrusion mitigation, in-situ chemical oxidation and reduction, soil vapor extraction, excavation of contaminated soil for offsite disposal, connection to the municipal water supply, and monitoring programs for groundwater, soil gas, and indoor air. Institutional controls will restrict future land use. Between 2023 and 2024, EPA installed vapor intrusion mitigation systems on several dozen homes and businesses after offering them to all at-risk properties. Remedial action began in August 2022 and is expected to continue through early 2028. Physical construction is not yet complete.
Community members can stay involved through the Community Advisory Group, which meets regularly. Virtual public meetings are held to discuss remedy design and installation progress. Meeting summaries and recordings from 2021, 2022, and 2023 sessions are available to the public. Residents with questions can contact the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, the Remedial Project Manager, or the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) representative assigned to the site.
