Skip to main content

WQARF | Payson PCE - Site Overview

WQARF Site

Payson PCE | Overview

Revised On: Jan. 2, 2024 - 4:00 p.m.

Registry placement date: April 29, 1998

Score: 63

County: Gila

Location

Payson, approximately bounded by Main Street to the north, Cedar Lane to the south, Beeline Highway (State Route 87) to the east and McLane Road to the west.

If you own a private well, live in or near the site boundaries, and have not had your well tested, please contact ADEQ.

Contaminant of Concern

Tetrachloroethene (PCE) 

Action Taken

An interim groundwater treatment system (IGTS) was constructed to remediate the contamination in the source area. The IGTS operated from October 1998 to January 2003 and was decommissioned in July 2013.

An expanded groundwater treatment system (EGTS) began operation in October 1998 and continues to operate by treating contaminated water and preventing the contamination plume from migrating further. Treated water from the EGTS is delivered to the town of Payson’s drinking water system.

ADEQ completed the record of decision (ROD) in June 2007. Groundwater monitoring takes place twice per year. The periodic site review was completed in November 2013. In December 2013, to optimize mass removal, two additional monitor wells were connected to the production well network of the EGTS. Both production wells started pumping in January 2014.

Status

 In 2015, a remedial optimization evaluation showed that enhanced reductive dechlorination (ERD) would accelerate remediation. Substrate injections (bio-stimulation) were planned based on the most current groundwater sampling at the site, and injections were completed at four newly installed injection wells.  Sugar-based substrate injections were completed in September 2016 and February 2017.  One bio-augmentation injection was completed in May 2017. In October 2017, a combination of vegetable oil and lactate was used in one monitor well. The other wells were injected with a solution of High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). Early 2018 performance monitoring data demonstrates some effectiveness of treatment of the source area with ERD. ADEQ will continue to conduct groundwater monitoring events and evaluate data to determine the next step towards closure of this WQARF site. The town of Payson will continue to operate and maintain the EGTS. 

Community Advisory Board (CAB)

Not active. For more information, view the Community Involvement Plan (CIP) | View/Download CIP >