New York – June 24, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — The New York State Department of Transportation (DOT), in cooperation with the City of Hornell and the State Departments of Health (DOH) and Environmental Conservation (DEC), will host a public information meeting on Wednesday, July 1, regarding a water treatment facility it is installing to service two city water supply wells in Hornellsville, Steuben County.
The meeting, which will have an open house format, will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Hornell City Hall, 82 Main St., Hornell, 14843. The public can arrive at any time during those two hours to learn about the project and ask questions of staff from the city and the three state agencies.
The primary source of the City of Hornell’s public water supply is three reservoirs located in the Town of Fremont. Two wells in Hornellsville supplement the city water supply system during periods of high demand.
Testing of the two supplemental wells since 2007 has detected chlorinated volatile organic compounds, including trichloroethene (TCE). TCE is commonly used as an industrial solvent or degreaser.
The City has managed the use of the two wells and upland reservoirs to ensure that the water delivered to residents is in compliance with New York State Department of Health requirements for public water suppliers. No residential wells have been found to have TCE levels above the public drinking water standard.
DEC and DOH initiated an investigation in 2013 to determine the source and extent of the groundwater contamination. As part of that effort, DEC installed groundwater monitoring wells at the DOT Miller Hill Yard, located about a half mile north of the city’s two supplemental wells. They found TCE in the groundwater beneath some portions of the yard.
The City of Hornell and the DOT, DOH and DEC have been working together to identify a solution. As a result, DOT is installing a carbon treatment system capable of removing TCE contamination from the two water wells in accordance with plans and specifications approved by the City and the DOH. Construction of this water treatment system is scheduled to be completed by early 2016.
In coordination with DEC and DOH, DOT also will conduct additional studies at the Miller Hill Yard to determine further appropriate actions.
For further information, or to request a sign language interpreter or assistive listening device, please contact James Rusak at (607) 962-4639, or write to the State Department of Transportation, State Office Building, 107 Broadway, Hornell, NY 14843, James.Rusak (at) dot.ny (dot) gov.
Contact: Jennifer Post, (518) 457-6400
