County To Map Groundwater Pollution

A project to inventory and map potential sources of groundwater contamination in Washtenaw County was begun last month by Scott McEwen, in cooperation with Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner Janis Bobrin and the Great Lakes CEIP Fund Inc., a national environmental organization. Over the next three months, McEwen et al. plan to identify and document sites and activities which may have an adverse impact on groundwater quality by reviewing historical records, state, county and municipal files, conducting interviews with local residents and by physical inspection. McEwen is hoping that the inventory will spur local action to undertake prevention oriented programs.

The maps will show the locations of all registered underground storage tanks, past and present landfill and dump sites, facilities which handle particularly hazardous chemicals, sites of accidental chemical spills, junkyards, and wastewater sludge and septage application, and salt storage areas. Maps will be available to area officials and citizens to aid in planning and managing groundwater protection and in understanding the threats groundwater faces.

Citizens having information on potential sources of groundwater contamination are urged to contact Scott McEwen at the Office of the Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner, P O Box 8645, Ann Arbor, MI 48107 or 994-2525.