NEWS RELEASE 2006-10
August 11, 2006

Malfunction Causes Release of Untreated Plumewater

MASSACHUSETTS MILITARY RESERVATION (MMR), Cape Cod, Mass. —Officials from the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence (AFCEE) announced today that the on-base Sandwich Road Groundwater Treatment Plant in Mashpee lost power last evening at 11 p.m. as a result of thunderstorms in the area.   A groundwater extraction well that sends water to the plant for treatment continued to operate due to a control malfunction.   The water overflowed the influent holding tanks and secondary containment system in the plant and approximately 30,000 gallons of untreated plume water seeped into the soils surrounding the building.  The untreated water contained the solvent trichloroethylene with levels up to 28 parts per billion.  

The release of the untreated water does not pose an ecological or public health risk.  Preliminary review indicates that there is not enough contamination in the release to require a formal notification to the regulatory agencies.  AFCEE is investigating the malfunction of the extraction well to determine why it did not shut down at the same time as the treatment plant.

For more information, please contact Mr. Douglas Karson, AFCEE/MMR Community Involvement Lead, at (508) 968-4678, extension 2; Fax (508) 968-4673; or E-mail doug.karson@brooks.af.mil.

To learn more about the cleanup program visit our website at www.mmr.org