Groundwater at as many as 14 power plants around the state — from IPL’s Harding Street station in Indianapolis up to NIPSCO’s Michigan City station and down to Duke’s Gallagher station in New Albany — was found to have dangerous levels of pollution, according to an analysis by the Indianapolis Star.
Coal ash contamination concerns This is the first time groundwater testing has been required at all of Indiana’s coal ash dumps, where millions of tons of coal ash sit in unlined pits.
Many plants also exceeded the 15 ppb action level or limit for lead, such as Duke’s western Indiana Cayuga station by nearly three times.
Previous tests done by Marion County health officials showed elevated levels of boron in their well, but not above safe drinking water standards.
"I just want to know," Cravens added, "what is the next step?"
Pam Thevenow with the Marion County Public Health Department encourages all residents with private wells to have them tested to ensure their water is safe.
"So that is evidence that it can pose a health risk, and it has," Thevenow has told IndyStar.
"When necessary," he said, "we will work with facilities to implement site-specific remedial actions."
Several other utilities — including IPL, NIPSCO and Vectren — said they are in the process of working to close their ash pits.
"It looks to me like we can’t close the ash in place," she said, adding that several unlined sites around the country closed with a cap still indicate groundwater contamination.