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The pollution that lies beneath
- September 15, 2007 - 5:06 PM
EDINA PLUME
Location: Edina, Hopkins, St. Louis Park
Pollutant: Vinyl chloride
Description: Edina shut down a city well in 2003 after the chemical was detected. Plume covers an 8.8-square-mile-area; part of it is under a former wood-treatment site (2), however the source of vinyl chloride is unknown.
Reilly Tar & Chemical plume
Location: St. Louis Park, Hopkins
Pollutants: PAHs
Description: Chemicals from a wood preservative plant (1917-1972) have required carbon filtration since 1986 at two affected city wells. Plume is stable. Site is now a park.
South Minneapolis arsenic site
Location: Minneapolis
Pollutant: Arsenic
Description: Former pesticide operations (1938-1968) left arsenic in a 23-acre area of groundwater. Soil was contaminated over a broader area.
Shoreham Yard -- west plume
Location: Minneapolis
Pollutant: PCP
Description: Wood tie treatment (1915-1972) at Soo Line rail yard contaminated groundwater over a 70-block area.
Shoreham Yard -- east plume
Location: Minneapolis
Pollutants: VOCs
Description: Degreasers and solvents from roundhouse and former chemical distribution center created this pollution plume.
Fridley ordnance plant plumes
Location: Fridley
Pollutant: TCE
Description: Two stable chemical plumes at a Navy munitions plant on the Mississippi River no longer threaten the Minneapolis water supply.
Blaine groundwater plume
Location: Blaine
Pollutant: DCA
Description: Industrial chemical from an unknown source affects groundwater beneath 1½ square miles. City treats water from affected wells.
East Bethel Landfill plume
Location: East Bethel
Pollutants: VOCs, other chemicals
Description: Groundwater near closed landfill is constantly extracted so the small pollution plume won't grow.
Army ammunition plant plume
Location: Arden Hills, New Brighton, Columbia Heights, Fridley, Mounds View, St. Anthony, Minneapolis
Pollutant: TCE
Description: Two suburbs must filter water from this 8-square-mile plume containing solvents from a former munitions plant in Arden Hills (1941-1975).
Wood treatment plume
Location: New Brighton
Pollutants: PCP, other chemicals
Description: Shallow groundwater near the closed MacGillis & Gibbs plant is extracted and treated to remove wood-preserving chemicals.
Hwy. 96/
North Oaks plume
Location: North Oaks, White Bear Township
Pollutant: Vinyl chloride
Description: Contamination from a dump on Hwy. 96 (1920s-1974) has migrated under a Gilfillan Lake in North Oaks, affecting some residents' wells.
Baytown Township TCE plume
Location: Bayport, Baytown and West Lakeland townships, Lake Elmo
Pollutant: TCE
Description: Solvents from an equipment maker (1940-1968) affected groundwater under 11 square miles; 160 home wells require filters.
Lakeland groundwater plumes
Location: Lakeland, Lakeland Shores, Afton
Pollutants: VOCs, BTEX
Description: Chemicals in about 100 private wells prompted construction of a municipal water supply in 1991. Two groundwater plumes are believed stable, with chemical levels dropping.
Note: Shaded area shows where well restrictions apply; chemical plume not mapped.
3M Oakdale dump plume
Location: Oakdale and nearby areas
Pollutants: PFCs, VOCs
Description: Waste dump used by 3M (1956-1960) is one of three sources of PFCs in vicinity. Chemicals have spread to the south.
County landfill plume
Location: Lake Elmo and nearby areas
Pollutants: PFCs, VOCs
Description: Closed public landfill (1969-1975) accepted wastes from many sources, including 3M; affects groundwater to south and east.
3M Woodbury dump plume
Location: Woodbury and nearby areas
Pollutants: PFCs, VOCs
Description: Large areas of PFC-contaminated groundwater lie south and west of this 3M dump (1960-1966)
Note: The PFBA contamination is also beneath Afton, Cottage Grove, Denmark Township, Grey Cloud Island Township, Hastings, Landfall, Maplewood, Newport, St. Paul Park and South St. Paul.
REFINERY/PCP PLUME
Location: St. Paul Park.
Pollutants: PCP, petroleum
Description: Small plume near Mississippi River from a former wood treating business and a refinery now owned by Marathon Oil Co.
Pine Bend Landfill
Location: Inver Grove Heights
Pollutants: VOCs
Description: Small, stable plume in shallow groundwater near Mississippi River.
Flint Hills Refinery plume
Location: Rosemount
Pollutants: BTEX
Description: Plume of pollution from refinery extends 1.5 miles to Mississippi River; 4.1 million gallons of wastes removed so far.
Farmington plume
Location: Farmington
Pollutant: PCE
Description: Narrow plume of groundwater tainted with dry-cleaner chemicals migrating toward Vermillion River, a trout stream.
Pockets of chemical-laden water percolate beneath the metro area. These 20 plumes of pollution are the legacy of decades of industrial waste disposal by private companies and government. Some communities now use special filtration for every drop of drinking water.
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