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Baytown Township Ground Water Contamination Site

This page provides information about cleanup of the Baytown Township Ground Water Contamination Site (Site).  More detailed information about this Site can be found in technical reports primarily available from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).  Some Site reports are also available from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).

Where is the Site?

The Site is located in central Washington County, Minnesota. The Site is defined essentially by the MDH’s Special Well Construction Area (SWCA).  The SWCA was enacted to regulate the construction of new wells.  At their widest extent, the SWCA and the Site are approximately bounded on the north by 50th Street, and on the south by 20th Street. The contamination extends from the eastern portion of the City of Lake Elmo through Baytown Township, West Lakeland Township and the City of Bayport to the St. Croix River as shown in the map below. 

Map of Site

What is the Contamination?

The main contaminant of concern that has been released to ground water at the Site is 1,1,2-trichloroethene (TCE). The TCE plume is located within the Site and is approximately five miles long and covers about seven square miles.  The TCE plume affects four major ground water aquifers.  The TCE plume for the unconsolidated and Prairie du Chien aquifers is shown above.  The TCE plume for the Jordan Aquifer can be viewed in the plume map.  There are approximately 650 homes and several businesses located within the TCE plume that are served by private wells.

What Does the Remedy Include?

The MPCA selected a remedial action for releases, or cleanup, at the Site that will protect the public health and welfare and the environment.  The remedial action was set forth in the July 2007 Record of Decision (ROD) Amendment. The major operable unit components of the selected remedy include the following:

• Operable Unit 1 (OU1) – Continued monitoring of private wells, sampling of private water supply wells, and installation, change out, and maintenance of granular activated carbon (GAC) filter systems as previously designated in the original May 2000 ROD.
• Operable Unit 2 (OU2) –An air stripping treatment system at Bayport Municipal Well #2. The City of Bayport is responsible for ongoing operation and maintenance of this air stripper.
• Operable Unit 3 (OU3) – Containment of TCE in ground water at the primary source zone - a former metal fabricating shop located at 11325 Stillwater Boulevard in Lake Elmo.
  
  
  • In early March 2008, the MPCA completed construction on a hydraulic barrier to contain the TCE plume and prevent off-property migration of contaminated ground water. The barrier consists of four extraction wells spaced such that their influence overlaps and collectively captures the contamination before it can migrate off the property.  The extracted water is then treated by air stripping to remove the TCE from the water.
    
    The pumps for the barrier system were started up on March 17, 2008. This barrier is operating continuously at approximately 70 gallons per minute with the exception of down time for maintenance or tests.  Its purpose is to control the ground water gradient such that high concentrations of contamination are unable to continue to migrate to the east. The barrier will likely operate for more than 10 years.
    
    The four extraction wells recover the ground water and pump it to a low-profile air stripper located within a treatment building.  The air stripper removes more than 99 percent of TCE from the incoming water. The water is treated to less than 1 microgram per liter (ug/L) which is below the MDH Health Risk Limit of 5 ug/L. The water is then discharged back to the soil using horizontal wells approximately 25 feet underground.

Potential Vapor Intrusion Risk

In November 2008, the MPCA conducted an intial screening for potential TCE vapor intrusion related to the Baytown Site. The following document provides an update:

• Update on Vapor Intrusion at the Baytown Superfund Site

Granular Activated Carbon Filters

The MPCA has installed whole-house GAC filters in a number of residences near the Baytown site to ensure safe drinking water.  This fact sheet gives general information on their use and maintenance.

• Fact sheet: Granular Activated Carbon Filters

Where Can I Get More Information?

All documents prepared during the investigation, selection, design and construction of the remedy are available at the MPCA, 520 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul, MN 55155 for review.

Selected documents are also available for review at the Bayport Public Library, 582 N. 4th Street, Bayport and the Rosalie E. Wahl Library, 3479 Lake Elmo Ave. N, Lake Elmo.

Testing Your Groundwater

Information about testing your groundwater is available on the Minnesota Department of Health's Web site.

Staff Contacts

• Kurt Schroeder,  Hydrogeologist, 651-757-2703, kurt.schroeder@state.mn.us
• CoriAhna Rude-Young, Public Information, 651-757-2680, coriahna.rude-young@state.mn.us
• Minnesota Department of Health (health issues or well issues): Jim Kelly, Health Risk Assessor, 651-201-4910

Links to Related Information

• Minnesota Department of Health's information about Baytown Township

Baytown Site History

• Baytown Ground Water Contamination Superfund Site Background Information