Vienna Wells sits in Vienna, Missouri, where a hat factory operated from 1952 to 1996 and released volatile organic compounds, mainly PCE (perchloroethylene), into the soil and groundwater. The site was added to the National Priorities List in September 2010 and has since moved through investigation, planning, and active cleanup phases. It is divided into two operable units: one for soil and one for groundwater.
EPA identified 28 contaminants of concern across soil, groundwater, and surface water. These include metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and copper, along with solvents like PCE (also called tetrachloroethene), trichloroethene, vinyl chloride, and benzene. PCE is the primary driver of concern and has been detected above drinking water standards in the groundwater plume. Tetrachloroethene was also found in surface water.
For soil, workers excavated roughly 57,211 tons of contaminated material, demolished buildings, removed foundations, and backfilled the area with clean soil. That work wrapped up in September 2024. For groundwater, EPA installed an extraction and treatment system that became operational in February 2024. The city of Vienna also runs an air stripper on its public water supply, installed in 2011, which removes PCE before water reaches residents. EPA has determined that human exposure is under control and that groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. An environmental covenant restricting groundwater use on the former factory property was filed with the Maries County Recorder on April 24, 2025.
Groundwater treatment is ongoing and is expected to continue through at least September 2025, with long-term response action running beyond that. Overall site construction is estimated to finish between September and November 2027, and the site is expected to be ready for anticipated reuse between June and August 2028. Routine monitoring of the treatment system and drinking water supply continues to verify that contaminant levels are decreasing and residents remain protected.
Community members can review site documents at the Heartland Regional Library System Vienna Branch at 315 3rd Street in Vienna. They can also contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager. For state-related questions, contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
