The Cliff Drive Groundwater Contamination site sits in Logansport, Indiana, where tetrachloroethylene (PCE) has been detected in the municipal wellfield's groundwater. PCE is a chemical commonly used in dry cleaning and industrial processes. The source of the contamination has not been identified. The U.S. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL), a roster of the country's most serious hazardous waste sites, in May 2019 after it was first assessed in March 2008 and proposed for listing in September 2018.
The municipal water supply is treated to remove PCE and currently meets federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards, according to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Human exposure and groundwater migration cannot be confirmed to be under control at this time, because the investigation is still gathering data. Physical cleanup construction has not begun, and no cleanup method has been selected yet.
EPA launched a Remedial Investigation (RI) in February 2024. The RI is being conducted alongside a Feasibility Study (FS), which will eventually identify and compare cleanup options. As part of the fieldwork, EPA used vertical aquifer sampling technology to collect groundwater samples from multiple depths in a single borehole. This approach gives a detailed picture of how contamination is distributed underground. EPA and its contractors worked with Logansport Utilities staff during this fieldwork, which focused on the wellfield capture zone and surrounding areas. Drilling and sampling finished on April 9, 2025. EPA is currently reviewing the results. The combined RI/FS is estimated to be completed between September and November 2028.
Community members who want to stay informed or ask questions can contact the EPA Community Involvement Coordinator or the Remedial Project Manager, who are available to address concerns and share updates as the investigation moves forward.
