FREE ESSAY ON BALLY GROUND WATER

BALLY GROUND WATER

BALLY GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION
The Bally ground water site is a municipal water supply well field in the borough of
Bally in Berk's county, near the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The Bally well field and
the nearby springs to the northwest of the site are the public water sources for
approximately 1,200 residents. The area near the site includes wetlands to the north and
a manufacturing plant, Bally Engineered Structures, 1,000 feet to the south of municipal
well number 3. Since the 1930's, degreasing solvents containing methylene chloride, TCA,
Methanol, Toluene, and TCE have been used in manufacturing at this plant. In 1982, a
state water quality check identified the plant as a source of VOC contamination in
Bally's municipal wells. The ground water and surface water is contaminated with various
VOC's, including tetrachlorethane, trichloroethane, and dichloroethene. Potential health
risks exist through direct contact with or drinking of contaminated ground water or
surface water. Currently contamination levels in active public water supply wells do not
pose any danger; however, private well contamination does pose a risk. Former lagoons lay
underneath the plant and are also considered potential sources of aquifer contamination.

From December 1982 to March 1987, the borough of Bally did not use the contaminated
municipal well number three for water supply. The water was periodically pumped and
discharged into a nearby pond to contain the contaminant plume. Pumping, however, had the
effect of drawing VOCS deeper into the aquifer. The Well was completely shut down in
March of 1987, due to results of additional ground water contamination studies indicated
that 19 of 35 wells sampled, contained detectable levels of VOCS. 
Currently, VOC-contaminated ground water extends from the plant to the east and
northeast. Contaminant movement has become more controlled since pumping and air
stripping pilot testing began at well number three. Ground water is the focus of this
remediation because no remaining source's of VOC has been identified on the site.
The selected remedial action for this site includes abandoning appropriate wells in the
attainment area; pumping and treatment of ground water from municipal well number 3 by
air stripping with either vapor phase carbon, regenerable vapor phase carbon, or vapor
phase catalytic oxidation. Followed by discharging treated water to an adjacent stream or
into the municipal potable water system, as needed to provide suitable water supply.
Implementation of institutional controls restricting the use of operable private wells
and the construction of new wells within the attainment area, along with the constant
monitoring of the ground and surface water are necessary to this cleanup process. 
The estimated present cost for this remedial action ranges from $2,950,000 to $3,640,000
dollars. This site is being addressed through Federal, state, and potentially responsible
parties action. This site was proposed to the National Priorities list of the most
serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites requiring long-term remedial
action on June 10, 1986. The site was formally added to the list July 22, 1987, making it
eligible for federal cleanup funds.