Environmental Impacts on Groundwater

(A TOSC Fact sheet)

Groundwater Contamination at the Ashland/NSP Lakefront Site

Two classes of chemicals are of greatest concern in the groundwater. They are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Benzene, a constituent of gasoline, is a VOC. Two common PAHs at the site are naphthalene (a light PAH) and benzo(a)pyrene (a heavy PAH).

Monitoring wells have been drilled on and around the NSP property. Groundwater drawn from these wells was collected and sent to a lab so that it could be analyzed.

Some of the monitoring wells have levels of VOCs and PAHs that are below detectable levels. Others have high levels of VOCs and PAHs that are above the Wisconsin groundwater enforcement standards. In addition, "free product" hydrocarbons were found in wells MW-7, MW-9, MW-13 and MW-15. (See Figure 2, "Groundwater contamination" for well locations.) "Free product" refers to contamination that is present in the environment as a separate, floating or sinking material that does not readily mix with or dissolve in water. The artesian wells in Kreher Park and at the Marina have been sampled and found to be not impacted.

VOC Levels
Monitoring Well	VOC	Amount ( m g/L)	Enforcement Standard
MW-4	Benzene	3800 ( m g/L)	5 ( m g/L)
	Toluene	2500 ( m g/L)	343 ( m g/L)
	Xylene	4400 ( m g/L)	620 ( m g/L)
MW-9	Benzene	Pure Product	5 ( m g/L)
	Toluene	Pure Product	343 ( m g/L)
	Xylene	Pure Product	620 ( m g/L)
MW-14	Benzene	7700 ( m g/L)	5 ( m g/L)
	Toluene	4500 ( m g/L)	343 ( m g/L)
	Xylene	3900 ( m g/L)	620 ( m g/L)
MW-15	Benzene	Pure Product	5 ( m g/L)
	Toluene	Pure Product	343 ( m g/L)
	Xylene	Pure Product	620 ( m g/L)
PAH Levels
Monitoring Well	PAH	Amount ( m g/L)	Enforcement Standard
MW-4	Napthalene	1900 ( m g/L)	40 ( m g/L)
	Benzo(a)pyrene	<210 ( m g/L)	0.2 ( m g/L)
MW-9	Napthalene	Pure Product	40 ( m g/L)
	Benzo(a)pyrene	Pure Product	0.2 ( m g/L)
MW-14	Napthalene	8400 ( m g/L)	40 ( m g/L)
	Benzo(a)pyrene	<210 ( m g/L)	0.2 ( m g/L)
MW-15	Napthalene	Pure Product	40 ( m g/L)
	Benzo(a)pyrene	Pure Product	0.2 ( m g/L)

The Midwest Hazardous Substance Research Center, Michigan State University.
Please contact us if you have any comments or questions.