| Abstract |
The Wausau Water Supply site, also known as the Wausau Ground Water Contamination site, is in Wausau, Marathon County, Wisconsin. Three primary source areas of ground water contamination have been identified; a municipal landfill, the Wausau Chemical Company, and the Wausau Energy Company. The landfill appears to be the predominant source of TCE contamination in the underlying aquifer. On the east side of the river the Wausau Chemical and Wausau Energy companies are suspected sources of soil and ground water contamination due to spills from past operations. Wausau Chemical, a bulk solvent distributer, was responsible for spilling 1,000 gallons of PCE-contaminated waste in 1983 alone. Wausau Energy, a petroleum bulk storage and disposal center, has reportedly contaminated soil and ground water with petroleum by-products. To provide sufficient water of acceptable quality EPA temporarily installed a granular activated carbon treatment system on one well in 1984 and VOC stripping towers at the municipal water treatment plant to treat water from two contaminated wells. The city has been blending treated water with uncontaminated water to reduce VOC levels. |
