MOUNT OLIVE TWP.
– Longstanding effects of pollution caused by the Combe Fill North Superfund landfill in Budd Lake have come to an end with completion of a water line that is bringing water to homes and businesses from a public water tank.
The homes and businesses had to stop using well-water in March 2016 after the water was found to have been contaminated from the Superfund site.
The grant pays for installation of the new line, new service lines to homes and the costs of sealing existing wells.
"I’m happy that it’s finally done but it’s unfortunate it took so long," said Mayor Rob Greenbaum.
The 1,4-dioxane was discovered in monitoring wells at the dump at a level of 26 parts per billion.
The findings triggered the tests at the properties outside of the dump’s perimeter.
Unacceptable levels of 1, 4-dioxane, a potentially cancer causing chemical, were found in one well in November 2014, marking the first time contaminants were discovered to have migrated off site to a drinking well since the polluted landfill was closed under the federal Superfund program in 1986.
In 1979, groundwater beneath the site was found to be contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as were private residential wells near the site.
The landfill was not properly closed when its owner, Combe Fill Corp., went bankrupt in 1981.