Roosevelt Irrigation District Announces Pilot Treatment System to Begin Cleanup of Polluted West Valley Groundwater
PHOENIX, ARIZONA (September 30, 2011) -- Officials at the Roosevelt Irrigation District (RID) announced their intent to implement a groundwater cleanup Pilot Treatment System for the West Van Buren Area (WVBA) groundwater plume. Bordered by McDowell Road on the North and Buckeye Road on the South and stretching from 7th Avenue to beyond 79th Avenue, the WVBA Site is associated with one of the largest plumes of contaminated groundwater in the United States. At least 20 RID wells located in the area have been impacted by the contamination and more than 10 additional RID wells are threatened by the contamination.
The Pilot System -- referenced in project documents as the "RID-95 Wellhead Pilot Treatment System" -- is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of methods that RID has proposed in order to remove a variety of pollutants from the WVBA plume.
After review of RID’s proposed Pilot Treatment System by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), RID contracted with Spinnaker Holdings, LLC of Denison, Texas, to design, build and operate the facilities necessary to implement the Pilot Treatment System.
"The West Valley has been threatened by this groundwater contamination for decades", said RID Superintendent Donovan Neese. "We look forward to working with Spinnaker Holdings to begin to set the situation right," he continued.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA (September 30, 2011) -- Officials at the Roosevelt Irrigation District (RID) announced their intent to implement a groundwater cleanup Pilot Treatment System for the West Van Buren Area (WVBA) groundwater plume. Bordered by McDowell Road on the North and Buckeye Road on the South and stretching from 7th Avenue to beyond 79th Avenue, the WVBA Site is associated with one of the largest plumes of contaminated groundwater in the United States. At least 20 RID wells located in the area have been impacted by the contamination and more than 10 additional RID wells are threatened by the contamination.
The Pilot System -- referenced in project documents as the "RID-95 Wellhead Pilot Treatment System" -- is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of methods that RID has proposed in order to remove a variety of pollutants from the WVBA plume.
After review of RID’s proposed Pilot Treatment System by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), RID contracted with Spinnaker Holdings, LLC of Denison, Texas, to design, build and operate the facilities necessary to implement the Pilot Treatment System.
"The West Valley has been threatened by this groundwater contamination for decades", said RID Superintendent Donovan Neese. "We look forward to working with Spinnaker Holdings to begin to set the situation right", he continued.
RID to Hold Polluters Accountable
Roosevelt Irrigation District v Salt River Project is a $40 million civil action brought against more than 60 Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980; more commonly referenced as Superfund. The suit seeks recovery of certain past and future costs incurred by RID in responding to the release of toxic substances from the PRPs’ facilities that have impacted or threaten to impact wells owned and operated by RID.
According to Gallagher & Kennedy attorney David Kimball: "The law provides us the means to see to it that those responsible for creating the pollution take the responsibility to pay for its cleanup. RID intends to fully pursue those means."
RID was formed in 1927 to serve customers in the West Metropolitan Phoenix area. RID uses 50 miles of main canals and 185 miles of lateral canals to deliver water for beneficial use.
As part of its efforts to promote responsible groundwater stewardship, RID is leading a cooperative effort, called the West Valley Groundwater Cleanup Coalition, to address the groundwater contamination.
Helpful Links:
Details on the RID-95 Pilot Plan
Fact Sheet
Maps
What is the Coalition?
EPA press release on Final Health Assessment for TCE
Contact Lawrence Moore at (480) 980-1933.