City Releases New Sample Data From Valley Brook Road Property 

October 18, 2011

Greenwood, SC –   The City of Greenwood has received the final report detailing ground water results from samples taken at four wells located in the former landfill located off of Valley Brook Road. The full report is available for public viewing on the City’s website main page. (READ FULL GROUNDWATER REPORT PDF)

The purpose of the ground water sampling was to further carry out the approved work plan that is a part of the Responsible Party Voluntary Cleanup Contract (VCC). The contract between the City of Greenwood and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) outlines the tasks the City will perform.  

The City engaged the services of Davis and Floyd, Inc. to complete the ground water sampling. Davis and Floyd Inc., who operates a SCDHEC certified laboratory in Greenwood, obtained the samples on August 18. An additional sample was obtained from one well on September 12. 

The depth at which ground water samples were obtained varied from 55.58 feet (well one) 27.95 feet (well two), 18.58 feet (well three), and 18.19 feet (well four).  Well one is located at the top of the property off of Valley Brook Road. Wells two, three, and four are located along the bottom of the property along Wilson Creek.

The pesticide dieldrin was the only pesticide analyzed for in the groundwater samples due to the fact that it was the only pesticide detected in the previously analyzed soil samples. Dieldrin was found in the well one sample at a concentration of 0.222 ug/l (micrograms per litre). Dieldrin was not detected in any of the three downgradient wells along Wilson Creek. According to the report, “the concentration of dieldrin in the background well suggests that it may have originated from an off site source.”

Four Semi Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOC) were analyzed in the groundwater samples – benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, chrysene, and dibenzo(a,h)anthracene. None of these SVOCs were detected in any of the monitoring well samples. 

The groundwater samples were also analyzed for twenty-four metals. None of the metal concentrations exceed the primary Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for drinking water established by EPA. 

Based on the analysis of the data, the report concluded “the groundwater flow direction is toward the downgradient monitoring wells along Wilson Creek.” 

The report further concluded that “groundwater collected from the downgradient wells and previous surface water samples collected from Wilson Creek do not indicate significant environmental contamination resulting from the use of this site as a former city dump. No additional sampling is recommended at this time.” 

The City of Greenwood is working with community leaders and concerned citizens along Valley Brook Road and the surrounding Booker T. Washington/College Heights neighborhood to schedule a community meeting before the end of 2011 to discuss the latest findings.