Itm 7_STPUD Press Release for PCE Public Meeting 5_draft
18784482
News Release Contact: Shelly Thomsen
South Tahoe Public Utility District sthomsen@stpud.us
1275 Meadow Crest Drive, 530-543-6268
South Lake Tahoe CA 96150
Public Meeting on PCE Groundwater Contamination at South Tahoe “Y”
South Lake Tahoe, CA (Month Day, 2019) – On Wednesday, June 26, 2019 the South Tahoe Public Utility District
(District), Lukins Brothers Water Company, and Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association (Water Suppliers) are
hosting a public meeting to update the community about the groundwater contaminant tetrachloroethylene (PCE)
found in groundwater near the intersection of Highways 50 and 89, referred to as the “South Y Area.”. The
meeting will review recent actions undertaken by the Water Suppliers to protect public water supplies. The
Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board will discuss recent activities to delineate the geographical extent
of the PCE groundwater contamination in order to address future remediation. Alternatives selected for further
evaluation through the feasibility study will also be presented. This public meeting is a follow-up to the March
2019 public meeting where the groundwater model and proposed alternatives were presented to address the PCE
groundwater contamination.
The purpose of the feasibility study is to identify the most cost-effective approach to removing PCE from
groundwater within the South “Y” Area while meeting the water supply needs of the Water Suppliers. The study
will integrate recent information collected during the pre-design investigation along with evaluating results from
groundwater model simulations. During the meeting, the next steps involved in evaluating alternatives for the
feasibility study will be discussed.
In South Lake Tahoe, the primary source of drinking water is groundwater. In 1989, PCE was discovered in drinking
water wells. Although the PCE first contaminated groundwater in the 1970s, it still remains in groundwater and is
now believed to cover more than 400 acres (see attached map).
PCE is a manmade chemical that was used from the early 1960s through the mid-1980s as a solvent for dry
cleaning clothes and degreasing metal. During the late 1980s, concerns about the toxicity of PCE led Federal and
State environmental agencies to list PCE as a probable carcinogen (causes cancer) and as a toxic pollutant.
Presently, five public drinking water wells have been impacted by the South “Y” PCE contamination.
When PCE is detected in a well, the well is either shut down, treatment is added to remove the PCE contaminant,
and/or an un-impacted alternative source of drinking water supply is found. The Water Suppliers are working
together to protect and sustain our communities groundwater supplies. All of the water provided by the District,
Lukins, and Tahoe Keys water companies meet all drinking water standards and is safe to drink.
Find out what the Water Suppliers are doing to make sure you continue to have access to clean safe water. Attend
the public meeting on Wednesday, June 26, 2019 from 6:00-7:30 pm at the South Lake Tahoe Airport in the City
Council Chambers located off Highway 50 at 1901 Airport Road, South Lake Tahoe. For more information, to watch
the November 2018 meeting, or to live stream the June 26, 2019 public meeting, visit www.stpud.us/groundwater.
###