Highway 18 Ground Water

Overview

A contaminated groundwater plume sits beneath Kermit, Texas, a city of about 5,700 people in Winkler County. The pollution traces back to a former dry cleaning operation that released chlorinated solvents into the Santa Rosa Aquifer, which feeds the city's public water supply. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) on August 3, 2017. The NPL is the federal list of the most serious uncontrolled hazardous waste sites in the country.

The main contaminants are perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE), both volatile organic compounds. Kermit's public water system first detected TCE in 1994 and PCE in 2000. Testing from 2013 to 2015 found that seven of the city's nine public supply wells contain one or both chemicals. Two wells exceeded the EPA's maximum contaminant level for PCE, with the highest readings at 23 and 5.7 micrograms per liter against a limit of 5 micrograms per liter. All TCE readings stayed below the EPA limit. Both chemicals can evaporate from soil or groundwater into indoor air in buildings above contaminated areas. The city currently treats and blends water from affected wells to meet safe drinking water standards before sending it to residents. EPA notes that human exposure status is insufficiently documented to determine if it is under control, and groundwater migration data is also listed as insufficient.

EPA began a Remedial Investigation in September 2018. The investigation focuses on one operable unit, the PCE source area. The work involves installing new monitoring wells and test borings across the city to map the full extent of soil and groundwater contamination and pinpoint the source. After the investigation, EPA will complete a risk assessment and a feasibility study, then propose a cleanup method. A remedy is estimated to be selected between June and August 2028. If contaminated soil is confirmed as a continuing source of groundwater pollution, EPA will design and carry out a remedy to protect drinking water. Construction has not yet begun.

Community members will have a formal chance to weigh in before any cleanup decision is final. EPA plans to hold a public meeting to present its proposed remedy and accept comments. Community groups can also apply for a Technical Assistant Grant (TAG), which provides up to $50,000 to hire an independent technical advisor to review site reports and help interpret EPA proposals. Site records are available to the public at the Winkler County Library at 307 South Poplar Street in Kermit, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For questions, residents can contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinators or Remedial Project Managers, or the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for state-level coordination.