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PCB contamination found at West Parish Water Plant; officials say drinking water remains safe
Summary
Springfield City officials told a committee April 17 that PCB-containing caulk was found during preconstruction work at the West Parish Water Plant. Officials said drinking-water delivery is unaffected, sampling with EPA and MassDEP is underway, and project schedule and disposal costs may be affected.
Springfield City officials said on April 17 that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were detected in construction materials at the West Parish Water Plant during soil removal for a new treatment facility, but they emphasized that public drinking water remains safe.
"We tested the material, and it came back with PCBs," said Josh of the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission, who led the technical briefing for the committee. Officials said the material appears to be PCB-containing caulk used in construction joints of four slow-sand filter beds built in the 1960s.
The finding was made after contractors removed the 3–4 feet of soil that covered subterranean filter structures to allow demolition. Commission staff said the contractor sampled exposed material and that initial tests returned a positive PCB result, prompting required regulatory notifications.
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