Understanding groundwater plumes at the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR)

4 Pages·1998·0.31 MB·English

by  Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence (U.S.)

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GROUNDWATER
UNDERSTANDING
PLUMES AT THE MASSACHUSETTS
MILITARY RESERVATION (MMR)
This fact sheet addresses community health concerns
associated with groundwater and the Massachusetts
THE WATER FROM PUBLIC WATER
Military Reservation (MMR). Terms identified in IS
SUPPLIES SAFE TO DRINK?
bold are defined in the glossary.
MMR
The is located on the upper western portion of Yes. The water from the towns of Bourne,
Cape Cod. It covers approximately 34 square miles Falmouth, Mashpee, and Sandwich, as well as the
MMR
and includes portions of the towns of Bourne, base is safe to drink. As with all public water
MMR
Mashpee, and Sandwich, and Falmouth. The supplies, these sources are regulated by the DEP and
sits over the recharge area for the sole source are tested regularly.
groundwater aquifer on which the towns rely for
their drinking water supply. The aquifer, referred to
as the Sagamore Lens, is a valuable water supply What is a groundwater plume?
resource.
A
groundwater plume is a body of groundwater
The military has used fuels, solvents and other
MMR containing contaminants which exceed federal
chemicals at for more than 50 years. Some of
and state safe drinking water standards.
these materials spilled on the ground. As these
Contaminated water can result when fuels,
materials filter through the sandy Cape Cod soil, they
solvents or other potential contaminants are
may dissolve and encounter groundwater. This can
spilled or released. When these materials filter
result in a groundwater plume (plume). There are
several known plumes originating from the MMR; through the sandy Cape Cod soil, they may
dissolve and encounter groundwater, or the water
many have moved beyond the base boundary. The
table, where soil is saturated with water. As the
Air Force, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
groundwater moves, the contaminants may be
(EPA), and the Massachusetts Department of
carried with it, creating a groundwater plume
Environmental Protection (DEP) are developing and
(Figure
1).
implementing community-based solutions for
cleanup of groundwater contamination at or What are the primary contaminants in
emanating from the MMR. the groundwater plumes at MMR?
WHO USES THE GROUNDWATER? Contaminants frequently found in the MMR
plumes are volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
The four towns of Bourne, Falmouth, Mashpee, and Examples include solvents used in metal
MMR
Sandwich, as well as the base, use the degreasing such as tetrachloroethylene (PCE),
groundwater as their public water supply. trichloroethylene (TCE), and carbon tetra-
Additionally, numerous private well users in the four chloride (CCI4); and fuel constituents and an
towns rely on the groundwater for drinking, other aviation gasoline additive ethylene dibromide
DOCUMENTS
domestic uses, and irrigation. GOVERNMENT (EDB).
COLLECTION
m
6
•
Massachusetts
University of
Copy
Depository
This fact sheet was developed through a collaborative effort of the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence
(AFCEE), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
(ATSDR), Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Massachusetts Department of Public
Health (DPH), Joint Program Office (JPO), and local officials.
FIGURE
1
acid rain recharge
groundwaters
to
airborne sulfur surface water
& nitrogen
compounds
onto
ter
Source:Adaptedfrom Palyand Seppacher n.d./notdownto xale
MY PRIVATE WELL NEAR AN MMR If you have questions about whether your well
IF IS
PLUME, THE WATER SAFE TO should be tested and for what, contact your local
IS
Board of Health, County Health Department, or the
DRINK?
Installation Restoration Program (IRP) office at
MMR.
Most ofthe private wells in the area draw water from
a shallow depth or zone in the upper portion of the HOW MAY THE PUBLIC AND THE
aquifer. This zone, generally less than 80 feet below
ENVIRONMENT BE AT RISK FROM THE
ground surface, should produce safe drinking water.
MMR CONTAMINANTS THE
Most of the plumes associated with the are IN
—
GROUNDWATER AT AND AROUND THE
deep as much as 100 to 200 feet below the ground
MMR?
surface.
AFCEE conducts a residential well sampling In order for there to be a risk, there must first be an
MMR
program for private wells in the vicinity ofthe exposure to the contaminant. The magnitude of the
plumes. The EPA and DEP monitor this program. risk to one's health depends on the level and duration
AFCEE
has and will take action to provide an of exposure, the toxicity of the particular
alternate water supply when needed. contaminant, the concentration of the contaminant,
and various personal factors. The fact sheet
"Understanding Exposure" in this series provides carbon tetrachloride (CCI4): a clear, man-made
more information about exposure. liquid with a sweet odor, used in propellants for
aerosol cans, the production of refrigerator coolants,
The major potential health risk at and around the
MMR as an industrial degreasing agent and cleaning fluid,
is from drinking contaminated groundwater;
in fire extinguishers, and in laundry spot removers.
however, most residences around the base are
connected to town water. For those residences not concentration: the relative amount of a substance
connected to town water and located in an area that mixed with another substance such as water, air, or
might be potentially at risk, the Air Force conducts a soil
private well sampling program.
contaminants: substances that pollute the air, water,
The fact sheet "Ecological Risk Assessment" soil, or food.
provides more information about potential impacts to
drinking water standards: the maximum concen-
the environment.
tration of a given contaminant allowed in a public
FOR MORE INFORMATION drinking water supply under state and federal regula-
tions. Also referred to as maximum contaminant
AFCEE Community Joint Program Office levels (MCLs).
Involvement Office Barbara Larcom
ethylene dibromide (EDB): a man-made additive
Vanessa Musgrave [phone]
that was formerly used in aviation gasoline to control
[phone]
the build-up oflead in engines.
EPA Community ATSDR
exposure: the contact of an organism (humans, in
Involvement Louise House
the case of a health risk assessment) with a chemical
Johanna Hunter [phone]
or physical agent
[phone]
DEP DPH groundwater plume: a concentration of contami-
Massachusetts Massachusetts
nants in groundwater exceeding safe drinking water
Community Involvement Mari Cooney
standards, usually originating from a distinct source.
Ellie Grillo [phone]
The size and shape of a groundwater plume is con-
[phone]
firmed by multiple samples from multiple wells.
Bourne Board ofHealth Bourne Water
recharge area: an area of land where there is a net
[phone] District
annual transfer of water from the surface to ground-
[phone]
water; where rainwater soaks through the earth to
Falmouth Board of Falmouth Water
reach an aquifer.
Health Department
[phone] [phone] tetrachloroethylene (PCE): a man-made solvent
M commonly used for metal degreasing and in dry
ashpee Board of Mashpee Water
cleaning clothes; also known as perchloroethylene
Health District
[phone]x555 [phone] toxicity: the actual or potential harmful effects of
chemicals on living organism and ecosystem. The
Sandwich Board of Sandwich Water
amount of chemical required to produce harmful
Health District
effects varies widely with the nature ofthe substance
[phone] [phone]
and the amount ofexposure to it.
Barnstable County
trichloroethylene (TCE): a man-made solvent used
Department ofHealth
to dissolve or disperse another substance such as oil
and the Environment
and is often used in metal degreasing.
[phone]
volatile organic compounds (VOCs): organic
compounds such as PCE and TCE that readily evapo-
GLOSSARY rate to the atmosphere.
water table: the upper limit of the ground wholly
aquifer: an underground geological formation,
saturated with water.
where the soil is saturated with water, containing
usable amounts ofgroundwater that can supply wells
and springs.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Additional information about the cleanup program at
MMR
the is available on the program's website
(http://www.mmr.org). The website includes a
variety of information, including technical
documents, meetings agendas and summaries, maps,
glossaries, weekly reports, and news releases. It also
includes links to other websites, including those of
EPA Region DEP, DPH, and ATSDR.
1,
In addition, five local libraries house information
repositories for the cleanup program. The libraries
are:
Falmouth Public Library Mashpee Public Library
123 Katherine Lee Bates Rd Steeple Street
MA
Falmouth, 02540 Mashpee Commons
MA
[phone] Mashpee, 02649
[phone]
Sandwich Public Library Jonathan Bourne
142 Main Street Library
MA
Sandwich, 02563 19 Sandwich Road
MA
[phone] Bourne, 02532
[phone]
US Coast Guard Library
Building 5205, Ent Street
Otis ANGB, MA 02542
[phone]
The Administrative Record, which is a public record
of all documents used in decision-making, is
available for review at the Falmouth Public Library
or by contacting the IRP Office at [phone].