PCE was commonly used as a dry cleaning solvent and for degreasing metal before the EPA deemed it a probable carcinogen and a toxic pollutant in 1989.
Since the EPA has set a maximum contamination level (MCL) for PCE particles in water, South Tahoe Public Utility District has been dealing with contaminated groundwater.
While this has been an ongoing problem, all water used in the area is safe to drink and to bathe in.
Those wells were immediately taken out of service, and Lukins Brother Water Co. began using STPUD water supply.
"The contaminated wells were taken offline as soon as the contamination was discovered," Jennifer Lukins, Assistant Manager for Lukins Brothers Water Co. said.
"The Lukins demand is now on our system using our backup supply," Richard Solbrig, General Manager for STPUD, said.
"So if we have problems, mechanical problems or any other problems with our wells, we’re in a situation where we’re going to end up potentially being short on our water supply, because we’re allowing Lukins to use our backup supply."
Wednesday night STPUD, Lukins Brothers Water Co. and Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association hosted a public meeting at the city council chambers, to get feedback for the public on a new test the district hopes is a long-term solution.
"We’re going to pump that contaminated well," Solbrig said.
The district needs to hold at least one public meeting in order to apply for a grant from the state that would fund the project.