Water Protection Activities in Washtenaw County

Challenge # 3: Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are compounds found in
items such as fuels, solvents, cleaners and degreasers that are
known to evaporate easily from liquids to air at warm
temperatures. They are often associated with point sources like
leaking underground storage tanks (LUST). However, nonpoint
sources such as the improper disposal of petroleum
products and the run off of storm water from impervious
surfaces can also cause these substances to enter into the
groundwater. Exposure to VOCs may harm the central nervous
system, liver, kidneys, or cause skin irritation. Prolonged
exposure to VOCs that are known carcinogens may cause
cancer.
Small or localized spills may find pathways though a deep rain
or snowmelt to groundwater and well water. The number of
these instances is difficult to quantify. However, the taste or
odor of gas or solvents in drinking water should indicate an
immediate need for testing.
Through the identification of contamination sites, exposure can
be minimized by taking local groundwater conditions into
consideration before drinking water wells are constructed. The
well permit process, or more specifically, the regulatory
process, is a tool that helps to minimize the exposure to VOC
contaminants that may be harmful to health.
VOC Response Objective:
Minimize the exposure to and consumption of water with
elevated levels of VOCs in Washtenaw County.
VOC Response Results:
Pollution Prevention requires reporting and inspection of
facilities that use or store hazardous materials on an annual
basis. Of the approximately 1,500 facilities that use or store
hazardous materials, only 17 of those store more than 1,500
gallons of hazardous substances.
18
The County Well Regulation
establishes buffer distances between
new wells and known areas of
contamination. Buffer distances
range from 300 to 800 feet, or can
be expressed relatively, like “the
maximum possible distance”.
Community wells must test for
VOCs and include the detectable
results in a Consumer Confidence
Report (CCR). Non-community
wells (that serve at least 25 persons)
must sample once every six years or
What protection
activities address the
challenge of VOCs?
Pollution Prevention
Well Regulation
Wellhead Protection
Michigan Safe Drinking
Water Act (Act 399)
Brownfield
Redevelopment
LUST Program
annually if in an area of known contamination. There were no
health based violations for VOCs in the 2004, 2005, and 2006
CCRs.
The Washtenaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority
has received a grant of $200,000 to assess sites for petroleum
contamination. Five (5) sites have been assessed. Grant funding
will allow 25-30 additional sites to be assessed.
Since the inception of the LUST program in 1985 (creation of
the Office of Underground Storage Tanks in the EPA), 381
sites in Washtenaw County have been closed, or have been
remediated to the applicable cleanup standard.
Next Steps:
While progress has been made to identify, remediate and
prevent VOC contamination, particularly through the federally
mandated, State of Michigan administered Part 213 LUST and
Part 201 programs, monitoring needs to continue and diligent
enforcement actions are needed to ensure the protection of
groundwater.