by Tait Russell
Continuing our previous blog discussions regarding area-wide contamination, this blog will cover the Yakima Railroad Area (YRRA) where industrial activities have caused wide-spread groundwater contamination.
The YRRA is approximately six square miles, including parts of Yakima and Union Gap which are contaminated with perchloroethylene (PCE). PCE is a solvent that is used in several industrial applications including dry cleaning activities. This contamination was discovered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1987. In 1991, the Washington State Department of Ecology installed monitoring wells throughout the YRRA and unfortunately PCE was found above cleanup levels which necessitated the beginning of a bottled water program.
Because the groundwater was contaminated and many of the residences in Yakima and Union Gap relied on wells for their drinking water supply, Ecology began providing free bottled water to these residences. In 1993, Ecology provided a grant of over $6 million dollars to the affected cities to transition residents who were on well water to a safe municipal supply. With residents now on a municipal supply of water, the YRRA groundwater PCE plume has little to no threat to human health.
Potentially Liable Parties (PLPs) started to be identified in 1992, but the list is ever changing and new PLPs can be added to the list whenever necessary. Groundwater is sampled in the YRRA biennially. Cleanups of source areas have significantly helped reduce contaminant concentrations. As of 2018, only 39% of the monitoring wells had PCE detected above the cleanup level.
With the rapid development all around Washington, including Yakima, it’s vital that we at The Riley Group, Inc. (RGI) stay informed on the most-current data from Ecology’s on-going groundwater monitoring program within the YRRA. This is the best and most effective way to provide helpful guidance to RGI clients who reside within this area.
