THEA Tests Find Chemicals In Water Near Jones Road Superfund Site

THEA tested well water at homes near the Jones Road Ground Water Plume Superfund Site and found levels at one home four times the EPA limit for Tetrachloroethylene, or PERC, a highly toxic chemical. We shared the results of the tests with the Cypress Community Coalition on Tuesday, August 8th. 

As background, the area was put on the Superfund list after a now closed dry cleaners dumped hazardous chemicals behind its store. Chemicals including PERC and Trichloroethylene, or TCE, seeped into the ground forming a chemical plume in the groundwater that flows beneath the neighborhood. It is a particular threat to residents who rely on well water. 

We wanted to look inside and around the zone that is over the plume, so we worked with homeowners to independently test 13 properties in July.  While most wells did not contain PERC or TCE, two did, indicating that the carcinogens are still in the water supply and could contaminate other wells. One of the wells contained PERC at four times the EPA’s Maximum Contaminant Level ( MCL) for drinking water. 

That's why we are calling on the EPA to find a permanent solution and on the state to investigate the cancer history of the area around Jones Road. We created this video to explain the tests and why we are concerned. 

In the last year, THEA has also partnered with the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) to perform more detailed tests in the neighborhood. At the meeting, Dr. Lance Hallberg, who is leading the study, indicated that PERC had been found at two locations within the boundary, but researchers want to do additional analysis before releasing the full results. He anticipates they will be released this fall.

The EPA’s team that is managing the Jones Road remediation was at the meeting and presented a status update. The EPA has offered to pay for residents who are currently using well water to connect to the municipal water system, but only a handful of people have signed up. They will be connected in the fall. 

Project Manager Raji Josiam announced that in September the EPA will start bioremediation in the shallow soil beneath the strip mall that housed the dry cleaner. This is a step to address a small area of the contamination source, and not the chemicals already in the aquifer. As shown in this EPA diagram, the chemicals are still concentrated beneath the concrete slab of the shopping center.

From there they enter the groundwater and flow beneath homes and other businesses.  The EPA is already using vapor extraction systems at the source and bioremediation will help further reduce the chemical concentrations. 

Last year, the EPA released its five year review of the project and stated that its current plan is not doing enough to protect people. Now the agency is in the process of updating the plan. THEA will continue to monitor that process and seek ways to involve the community in decisions.