Soil Testing at Former Water Tank Site

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2017

For more information, please contact: Vic Kelson, kelsonv@bloomington.in.gov, 812-349-3650

Soil Testing at Former Water Tank Site

Bloomington, Ind. - Soil testing at the site of the former CIty of Bloomington Utilities (CBU) Dyer water tank located at 1008 N Monroe St. has revealed the trace presence of lead in the soil above allowable Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) standards. The tank was in service between 1954 and 2015, when it was taken out of service and dismantled. The contamination discovery was made when CBU employees conducted routine soil sampling in anticipation of reusing the site. The location is fenced and currently unused.

The contamination is very likely the result of historical sandblasting of lead paint that had been conducted over decades on the exterior of the former tank to prepare it for re-painting. According to IDEM this is not unusual with tanks from this era.

Sampling results indicate levels of lead in the soil ranging from 50.7 to 1530 milligrams per kilogram (mg/Kg). The IDEM limit for residential areas is 400 mg/Kg.

Residents of adjacent properties can anticipate additional soil sampling in the area, followed by any necessary remediation, at the expense of CBU. Details will be shared as they are available.

The contaminated soil does not present a danger if left undisturbed. Once the scope of the contamination is determined, the soil will be removed and disposed of according to IDEM protocols, and new soil will be brought in to replace it.

CBU owns and maintains four other water tanks that were constructed before lead paint was banned in 1978. Soil contamination testing will be completed at each of those sites and IDEM-approved remediation will be conducted if necessary. Those tanks are the West Tank on Loesch Road, the East Tank on SR 446, the Redbud Tank at 17th and the SR 45/46 bypass and the South Tank located adjacent to the CBU Service Center at Henderson and Miller Drive. They are also fenced and not available for public access.

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