NORTH 5TH STREET GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION

As of June 2026, the North 5th Street Groundwater Contamination Superfund site is considered ‘Insufficient Data to make a Human Exposure evaluation” (HEID). Contaminant levels in the municipal supply wells are currently below the Safe Drinking Water Act Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for site COCs based on the most recent data provided by the City of Goshen water utility. This means the levels of contamination in groundwater and water utility distribution systems are below EPA’s defined risk levels. Groundwater from municipal wells is blended in a holding tank and treated at the Goshen North Well Field with chlorine and fluoride prior to distribution to residents. However, due to detections of COCs in individual raw well water and blended water samples, there is potential for contamination levels to increase and affect current uncontaminated wells #2 and #3 in the North well field and three municipal wells (#12, #13, and #14) in the City’s southern Kercher well field. In addition, one shallow boring groundwater sample near the North municipal well field reported vinyl chloride contamination above the MCL. According to the HRS Documentation package, the Site was listed on the NPL due to the groundwater migration pathway as a groundwater plume with no identifiable source due to not being able to demonstrate attribution of the release of chlorinated solvents to a possible source. The first phase of the RI, a Private Well Investigation, is underway and includes informational outreach and community involvement interfacing with residents to obtain access for sampling of private wells. The Remedial Investigation will further evaluate the site conditions, assess the groundwater migration pathway, and investigate potential source areas and is expected to be completed by April 2031.