Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 4, 1990 TAG: 9004040119
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV10 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PETER MATHEWS NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Whether that means he'll also have better water is another question.
On Monday, crews removed a 1,000-gallon gasoline tank from an old store near McGuire's property on Virginia 703 in the tiny New Ellett community. State Water Control Board officials said evidence indicated the tank was causing the problems with McGuire's well.
McGuire, however, thinks Norfolk Southern's lubricating system on the tracks nearby is to blame.
"One of these days I'm going to make them dig every bit of it out," he said.
McGuire believes grease from the system mixes with rainwater and runs downhill to his well near the tracks. He said dark soil near the tracks is evidence of contamination.
The result: tap water that tastes and smells bad.
As the crews removed the tank, McGuire repeatedly challenged Paul Henson, an NS official, to drink his water. Henson declined.
The system lubricates a stretch of track before a sharp curve. This prevents wear and tear on the wheels, NS spokesman Don Piedmont said.
The company already has cleaned up discarded grease barrels from the site, Piedmont said, and the railroad doesn't think the lubricants are causing McGuire's problem, anyway.
The water board issued a laboratory report last week saying small amounts of a half-dozen chemicals were in McGuire's water. Amounts of the chemicals, including toluene, trimethylbenzenes and four others, ranged from one to 30 micrograms per liter.
It is difficult to interpret the data because chemicals change over time, but gasoline is a more likely source than the railroad's grease, said Janet Queisser, environmental specialist for the water board.
"It's grease. It's not going anywhere," she said.
If the tank is the problem, it may take some time to clean up the site because it's not clear who the owner is, said Jim DeLuca, a water board geologist. DeLuca took samples of rock from under the tank, water and grease for further tests.
by CNB