The draft cleanup order recently issued by the Central Coast
Regional Water Board to formalize the process of planning how to
rid South Valley’s ground water of perchlorate is years overdue.
Nonetheless, with a sigh of relief, we welcome this important step
forward in the battle to keep our water clean and safe.
The draft cleanup order recently issued by the Central Coast Regional Water Board to formalize the process of planning how to rid South Valley’s ground water of perchlorate is years overdue. Nonetheless, with a sigh of relief, we welcome this important step forward in the battle to keep our water clean and safe.
Olin Corp. has long acknowledged that the perchlorate plume snaking south and east from its now-closed road flare factory in south Morgan Hill is its responsibility after the poisonous chemical was discovered in South Valley water in April 2002. It’s hard to believe it’s been three years.
The order means that Olin now has one year to map and measure the plume, chart perchlorate levels at various depths in the aquifer, and propose a plan for removing it.
The draft order met with mostly positive reviews. Santa Clara Valley Water District CEO Stan Williams said that the cleanup order met the water district’s expectations.
“From the district point of view, after a rough review, the basic format is what we were hoping would be in it,” Williams said.
Sylvia Hamilton, San Martin’s unofficial mayor and chairwoman of the Perchlorate Community Advisory Group, echoed Williams sentiments.
“We’ve said from the get-go that what we want is to contain the plume, clean it up and set timelines, so I’m very pleased with those aspects,” she said after the draft cleanup order was released.
However, Morgan Hill officials are disappointed with the order, because it does not address the so-called “northeast” perchlorate plume, which has contaminated some Morgan Hill municipal wells. Olin has denied responsibility for that plume and is appealing an order that it conduct forensic testing that might help determine who is responsible for the perchlorate.
Morgan Hill is rightfully concerned. The northeast plume didn’t just materialize out of thin air, and given the inexact nature of the science of underground water flows, Olin is certainly a reasonable suspect.
Morgan Hill officials should continue to press the water board and Olin to nail down who is responsible for the northeast perchlorate plume so that Morgan Hill taxpayers won’t be on the hook for a costly cleanup that ought to be the responsibility of whoever polluted the aquifer.
In the meantime, we’re thrilled to see progress on the cleanup plan for the southeast plume that’s snaking through San Martin and toward Gilroy, even if it that progress was much too slow in coming.
