EPA Superfund site
CULPEPER WOOD PRESERVERS, INC.
Human exposure is NOT currently under control
Data limitations: Proximity to a Superfund site boundary does not mean your property is contaminated. EPA site boundaries show the area designated for cleanup, not the full extent of contamination. Groundwater plumes can extend beyond site boundaries. This tool shows publicly available EPA federal data. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by EPA, and is not a substitute for a professional environmental assessment.
About this site's exposure pathways
As of May 2026, the Culpeper Wood Preservers Superfund site is considered Current Human Exposure Not Under Control (HENC). In August 2025, EPA sampled private residential wells and found hexavalent chromium in two homes at 27.3 and 328 micrograms per liter (µg/L), above the health-based level of 0.11 µg/L. The affected pathway is groundwater from private wells; Operable Unit 01 (OU1). Because these homes continue to use their wells, exposure is from both ingestion and household uses, including showering and bathing. This is unacceptable based on EPA risk-based criteria [EPA’s tap water regional screening level (RSL) for carcinogenic risk (1E-4) is 0.11 µg/L and non-cancer risk (HI=1) is 13 µg/L], using data from August 2025 residential well sampling (27.3 and 328 µg/L in residential well water). A 2019 Removal Action included installation of stub-outs to the public waterline at each of these homes to enable future connection to the public waterline when the property owners agree to it. Currently, EPA is preparing a proposed cleanup plan (PRAP). Until the final Record of Decision (ROD) is issued, EPA and the potentially responsible party (PRP) will implement interim measures to stop exposure at the two homes. Planned interim measures may include the PRP installing public water lateral connections or, if access is not granted for a waterline connection, the PRP installing point of entry treatment (POET) systems by September 2027. If the PRP refuses to implement interim mitigation measures, EPA may implement these measures and seek reimbursement through cost recovery over the same timeframe. Residents can reduce risk by using only bottled or public water for drinking, cooking, making infant formula, brushing teeth, and making ice, and for pets; do not use well water for these purposes. For more information, contact Community Involvement Coordinator Katherine Page, 215-814-2409, [email protected]. EPA anticipates human exposure will be under control by September 2027 because the PRP will have implemented mitigating remedies (public water connections or POET systems) or the property owner will have formally denied both the PRP and EPA access to implement a remedy. The PRP will continue bottled water delivery until permanent alternate water is in place.