“During the operation of that company,” a memo on the subject reads, “certain pollutants entered the water table.” According to discussion during the July 10 meeting of the Tullahoma Board of Mayor and Aldermen, operations during the 1970s to 1980s led to the leaking of a popular dry-cleaning solvent — tetrachloroethene (PCE) — in the groundwater underneath the site.
The City of Tullahoma is in the process of implementing an ordinance that monitors the construction of wells in the southeastern part of the city, due to a groundwater pollution issue stemming from the operation of the Mid-South Uniform Service, formerly located on South Anderson Street.
“According to Jim, the local company spent something like $800,000 working on the site doing engineering and remediation,” said Baltz.
Well ordinance One of the recommendations to the company from TDEC, said Baltz, was that the company approach the city with the idea of an ordinance that monitors the installation of private wells in the affected area.
Baltz said that since early April the city has been working with TDEC officials on just what the ordinance needs to contain.
“Basically, what we do is by instituting this, when people want to put in a well in that area, then they’ll have to go through a process,” said Baltz.
“What we’re trying to do is just identify when people are trying to do that activity,” he added.
That way, he said, when people wish to dig wells in the area affected by the polluted water, the city will be able to coordinate with TDEC officials on their recommendation for the well.
Additionally, it sets up an appeal process should the city be in a position to deny an applicant.
Since the pollutants are still in the groundwater, Jackson said that his team and state officials with TDEC believed the best way to handle the affected area would be to minimize exposure to the contaminated water.